England's stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, likened leading his first Test match last week to the feeling of making his debut all over again. Pope stepped in for regular captain Ben Stokes, who has been sidelined for the summer due to a hamstring injury.
Although Pope's debut as captain began with a victory in Manchester, his performance with the bat was underwhelming. The 26-year-old, a key figure in England's batting lineup, managed to score only 12 runs across two innings.
"Captaining for the first time definitely felt different," Pope remarked on the eve of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. "It was a fresh start, almost like that debut feeling all over again."
Despite the challenges, Pope expressed that he enjoyed the experience, even though his batting didn’t reflect his usual standards. He hopes to set aside the pressures of captaincy and focus on improving his performance in the upcoming weeks.
Pope also shared that he had sought advice from former England captain Joe Root on managing the dual responsibilities of batting and leading the team. Root suggested that while captaincy can be mentally taxing on the field, finding a routine and sticking to it could help maintain consistency at the crease.
"He mentioned how it's more demanding in the field, but it's about finding small routines that help you get into the right mindset once you're at the crease," Pope explained. "It's about continuing what has brought me success over the last couple of years and keeping that going."
Pope is also fortunate to have Ben Stokes around for guidance, as the regular captain remains with the squad while recovering from his injury. Pope mentioned that Stokes is expected to return for the tour of Pakistan as planned.
"He's still some way off from playing, not quite ready to bat or field at first slip," Pope noted. "But injuries, while not ideal, offer players a chance to reflect and work on aspects of their game. I’m sure Stokes is making the most of this time, and he'll be fresh and ready for Pakistan and New Zealand."
Pope also expressed pride in the "different style of cricket" England played in the first Test, aligning with head coach Brendon McCullum's vision after their 4-1 defeat to India earlier this year.
"Brendon made some tough decisions that he believed would push the team forward," Pope said. "We don’t use the term 'Bazball,' but we’re playing a new brand of cricket, and that’s something we can continue to build on as a team. When we get the chance to be ruthless, we must take it to win as many games as possible. Other times, we'll look to score more freely and take wickets more quickly."