The Ashes 2025-26: England’s Jofra Archer exits tour as Jacob Bethell replaces Ollie Pope at MCG

The replacement of Pope with Bethel is the latest phase of long-running speculation over England’s No. 3 spot.

Pope’s highest score in six innings on this Ashes tour is 46, which brings him eight Test series against Australia without a half-century.

In the past seven Tests that the 27-year-old has played since he made a century against India at Headingley in July, he has averaged 24.38.

Overall, he averaged 34.55 in 64 Tests. This is the first time he has been ruled out of a Test since the 2022 tour of the West Indies.

The Surrey man has been under pressure since Bethell made his Test debut in New Zealand at the end of last year, when the left-hander made three half-centuries in as many matches.

However, Bethell has had an off year since that impressive tour of New Zealand.

He played just three first-class matches last year, one of which was the fifth Test against India at The Oval, when he scored scores of six and five.

The 22-year-old hit 71 for the England Lions against Australia A in Brisbane earlier this month.

Speculation that Bethell might come in at the start of the Ashes series increased when Pope was replaced as vice-captain by Harry Brook when the England squad was announced in September.

Instead, Bob became the first victim of the failed attempt to retrieve the urn.

“He won’t be the only one disappointed in the dressing room with the way things have gone,” Stokes said. “Being 3-0 down, it’s tough to be on a journey like that.

“There will be a lot of disappointment in the dressing room from everyone who is in there.”