England is on the brink of a 2-0 defeat in the Ashes, with the team's second eight-wicket hammering to Australia prompting calls for change. The question now is, where should they make it? One option is to bring in Jacob Bethell at No 3, replacing Ollie Pope.
Bethell has been a prolific run-scorer in first-class cricket, scoring 71 for the Lions and looking pretty good in New Zealand last winter when batting at three. He also bowls some left-arm spin, which tends to favor the Adelaide Test. However, Bethell's lack of experience under his belt is a concern, as he didn't play much cricket over the summer.
Former England captain Michael Atherton thinks that replacing Pope with Bethell would be a good idea, but only if Bethell has spent more time playing cricket and gaining experience. Atherton believes that bringing in someone new at this stage could strengthen the team, but he also notes that Pope has a proven track record of scoring runs.
On the other hand, former England seamer Stuart Broad thinks that Pope is still the better option, citing his proven track record of scoring runs and his ability to adapt to different conditions. Broad believes that there's not enough weight of talent knocking Pope out of the team, and that bringing in Bethell at this stage would be a mistake.
Ultimately, the decision on whether to bring in Bethell or stick with Pope will depend on how England assesses their team's strengths and weaknesses heading into the Ashes. One thing is for sure, though: it can't come soon enough.
Bethell has been a prolific run-scorer in first-class cricket, scoring 71 for the Lions and looking pretty good in New Zealand last winter when batting at three. He also bowls some left-arm spin, which tends to favor the Adelaide Test. However, Bethell's lack of experience under his belt is a concern, as he didn't play much cricket over the summer.
Former England captain Michael Atherton thinks that replacing Pope with Bethell would be a good idea, but only if Bethell has spent more time playing cricket and gaining experience. Atherton believes that bringing in someone new at this stage could strengthen the team, but he also notes that Pope has a proven track record of scoring runs.
On the other hand, former England seamer Stuart Broad thinks that Pope is still the better option, citing his proven track record of scoring runs and his ability to adapt to different conditions. Broad believes that there's not enough weight of talent knocking Pope out of the team, and that bringing in Bethell at this stage would be a mistake.
Ultimately, the decision on whether to bring in Bethell or stick with Pope will depend on how England assesses their team's strengths and weaknesses heading into the Ashes. One thing is for sure, though: it can't come soon enough.
. It seems like a bit of an overreaction to say that England is on the brink of defeat already? Like, we're only in the first Test, fam! Anyway, I think Jacob Bethell has some promising qualities as a batsman and bowler, but let's not forget Ollie Pope's proven track record 
. If they do decide to make a change, it should be based on the team's overall assessment of their strengths and weaknesses, rather than just trying to inject new talent willy-nilly 
. I mean, Broad has some good points about Pope's adaptability in different conditions - let's not write him off just yet 
. But at the same time, if Bethell is ready to step up and deliver, then bring him on 
!
... but at the same time, you can't just drop Pope if he's been consistent for England 
. I mean, 71 for the Lions is a decent score, but we don't know what he's like in high-pressure situations? And experience over summer doesn't exactly scream 'rock-solid' to me... 
Plus, Ollie Pope has been doing his job just fine – we shouldn't be making wholesale changes mid-tour.
️. The fact that England is getting hammered 2-0 and now we're debating this makes me want to pull my hair out 
. It's like they're trying to fix the problem after it already happened. And Broad's right, Pope has a solid track record, why mess with that? 
the thing that worries me tho is that pope seems to be doing his job pretty well already 
broad's a legend tho, can't disagree with him on this one 
anyway i was thinking about what i would do if i was england captain and im like id bring in some fresh blood but not just anyone haha i wanna see how bettell does in a big match first maybe play him against south africa or india so he can get more exp lol Broad makes sense tho pope has scored runs before and thats important 
, but I think they're overthinking it a bit 
Popes record speaks for itself, but what if Bethells got a hot streak and took the team by storm? 
It's all about taking risks and trying new things. Broad might say Pope is safer, but where's the fun in that? 
Let's just hope whoever makes the call knows how to do it 
. Both Michael Atherton and Stuart Broad have valid points, but ultimately, it's about finding a balance between trying new faces and sticking with what works 
. The question is, where will they draw the line? Will it be in Australia or back home? 
as michael atherton said, having jacob bethell step in could be a good idea, but only if he gets more experience under his belt 
but at the same time, ollie pope has been doing pretty well for england too, and broad is right in saying that there shouldn't be too much pressure on him to change just yet 
. It's better to have a calm and rational discussion about what's best for the team, rather than making an impulsive decision that might end up backfiring 
...
️ ASAP or risk losing 4-0 
Bethell could be the answer but only if he's given more experience 
so yeah, let's stick with him 
. I mean, Bethell has had some good spells in first-class cricket but experience means so much more in big games like the Ashes. It's not just about batting or bowling, it's about knowing how to handle pressure and the media scrutiny that comes with being an England player. Pope may not be as flashy as Bethell, but he's proven himself time and time again. Bring in someone new and they'll probably get hammered... I don't want to see England lose another big game 
. Bringing in Jacob Bethell or sticking with Ollie Pope are both options, but I think bringing in someone new could actually do them some good 
Just not sure that's gonna happen... 
! It's always exciting to see players and coaches going head-to-head about who should be in the lineup. I think Bethell has some awesome skills, but Broad's right that Pope's got experience and a proven track record - you can't go wrong with that