England have reportedly privately admitted that they stuck by an out-of-form player for too long ahead of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
England and Australia will contest the fifth and final Test of the 2025/26 Ashes in Sydney on January 4.
The tourists come into the match 3-1 down, having lost the first three Test matches in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide before securing their first Test win in Australia for 15 years when they defeated the hosts in Melbourne last time out.
Throughout the series, there have been several changes to Brendon McCullum’s XI, with pace bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson all returning home due to injury.
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As a result, seamer Matthew Potts and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir have been named in England’s 12-man squad for the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
It is unclear if both will play, but the tourists will have to make at least one change to the bowling line-up due to Atkinson’s omission.
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All-rounder Jacob Bethell, who came into the side in place of Ollie Pope for the fourth test and scored a vital 40 in the second innings, will likely retain his place.
Pope was dropped ahead of the Boxing Day Test after scoring 125 runs in the first three matches at an average of 20.83.
The 28-year-old Surrey top-order batsman also failed to register a single score of 50 or more in his six innings in Australia.
Ahead of the series, Pope was replaced as vice-captain by Harry Brook, which resulted in further questions about his future as England’s number three.
A recent report from the Mail claims that “England now privately admit they stuck with [Pope] for too long”.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith has also struggled in Australia, averaging just 19.85 with the bat, and will not take part in the upcoming white-ball matches in Sri Lanka before the T20 World Cup.
Both men will be hoping to return to the red ball team in 2026, with England set to face New Zealand in a three-match series at home in June before a further three-match series against Pakistan between August and September.
Smith has the added opportunity of white-ball cricket to impress the selectors, but Pope will have to go back to the drawing board to prove his worth by performing for Surrey in the County Championship, for whom he averages 44.63 in 129 first-class games.
Topics: Cricket
Luke Davies