Nasser Hussain Thinks Ollie Pope's Appointment As Test Captain For Sri Lanka Series Augurs Well For England

Former captain Nasser Hussain thinks Ollie Pope's appointment as England Test skipper for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka augurs well for the side ahead of the all-important Ashes happening next year in Australia. Pope was made England captain for the Sri Lanka series starting on August 21 as Ben Stokes was ruled out due to a torn hamstring. "I think it's good for Pope to be captain for three Tests, just in case, Ben Stokes does get injured in the future. They need other options. Just like when they go to Australia, and they don't want a bowling attack that's inexperienced. You don't want to get there with someone (leading) who hasn't done it before," said Hussain in the latest episode of Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

At the same time, Hussain thinks Pope has yet to establish himself as a firm leader in the England Test side. "The feeling with Pope is that it doesn't come naturally, (whereas) the feeling with Stokes is that cricketing intelligence comes very naturally to him."

"It feels like he (Pope) was given the vice-captaincy to get him out of that shell, the no. 3 position as well, we believe in you, which I think was the right thing to do. But the other side of that, when you're captain. You've to sell that belief. Sell yourself to the team, your plans."

Similar views were echoed by former skipper Michael Atherton. "Essentially, you're in a caretaker position. And Ben Stokes has left such a permanent mark on the side, Ollie Pope wouldn't want to change that. While you are captain and you make decisions, it's someone else's team. It's a slightly awkward position for him."

Just like Stokes, England will also be without opener Zak Crawley for the series due to a broken finger. Hussain quipped Test head coach