Ashes 2025-26: ‘He looked too insecure in No.3’ – Former England captain backs the omission of Pope

Former England captain Michael Atherton has backed the decision to omit batter Ollie Pope from the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. The 57-year-old felt that Pope had looked insecure at the crucial No. 3 position and suggested that his omission might prompt head coach Brendon McCullum to reflect on whether things are beginning to unravel for England.

Pope has scored 125 runs in three matches in the ongoing Ashes series at an average of 20.83. Atherton believes the right-hander has appeared vulnerable in a role that has traditionally carried great importance in England’s Test setup. He added that the No. 3 position has historically been more pivotal for England than the No. 4 spot, and Pope’s struggles there justified the decision to leave him out of the side.

“Removing him from the firing line is the right call. The No3 position carries special status in Australia, because it is often where their best players have batted, as opposed to No4 in an England side, but Pope has looked too insecure in what is a vital position. After three poor Tests, his average away from home has dropped below 30, and against Australia it is a paltry 17. Putting Pope at No3 was the first big call that Brendon McCullum made as head coach, and dropping him will be a painful reminder of how everything is falling apart,” Atherton wrote in ‘The Times’.

Atherton also felt that Jofra Archer’s absence from the last two Tests was a major setback for England, admitting that the fast bowler had been the visitors’ best performer in the series so far. England announced their playing XI for the fourth Test on Wednesday, making two changes to the side. Gus Atkinson was brought in to replace Archer, while Jacob Bethell was drafted into the XI in place of Pope to bat at number three.

“Wood was always going to be a high-risk gamble, and it predictably failed to pay off, but Archer has been the pick of the bowlers and his injury is a huge blow for the final two Tests after a relatively light workload,” wrote Atherton.

“Archer is not England’s leading wicket-taker here – that accolade goes to Brydon Carse – but he has been the best bowler by some distance and the one that Australia’s batsmen have treated with most caution and respect. It was noticeable in the second innings at Adelaide that they looked to sit on Archer and wait for the others to come into the attack. His economy rate in that innings was 1.57; nobody else went under 3.5 runs per over,” he added.