IND vs ENG: 'If he isn't leaving the IPL to come and play a Test match...' - Former England skipper backs Ollie Pope over Jacob Bethell

Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook has backed vice-captain Ollie Pope to retain the crucial No. 3 spot in England’s batting line-up for the upcoming five-match Test series against India.

Pope made a strong case for himself with a commanding 171 in England’s only red-ball fixture of the summer, the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.“Ollie Pope's 170 meant a lot to me, he and (Zak) Crawley were under the pump and they delivered,” Cook told The Independent, highlighting Pope’s ability to perform under pressure.Despite Pope’s impressive innings, he faces competition from the promising 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who was part of England’s recent white-ball series sweep against the West Indies but did not play in the Zimbabwe Test.

Cook expressed surprise at Bethell’s decision to miss the Test, suggesting it may have affected his chances of selection.

Cook explains why Pope is favoured over Bethell

“When I left New Zealand I thought they'll go with Jacob Bethell but if he isn't leaving the IPL to come and play a Test match, for whatever reason that is, it's not a punishment, but that's the way the cards have fallen whether it's Bethell's fault or not,” Cook said. “If he's that desperate to play I would have said he would have come out and played, then he'd have guaranteed his England selection.

I don't care what's going on behind the scenes on that.

”

Both Pope and Bethell are included in England’s 14-man squad for the series opener at Headingley starting June 20. While Pope brings experience with 56 Tests and eight centuries, Bethell boasts an impressive average of 52.00 from just six Test innings, including a career-best 96 against New Zealand last December.Looking ahead to England’s winter tour of Australia, Cook said the No.

3 position will again be under scrutiny. “Will Pope play at number three in Perth? He's in possession at the minute and we'll find out if he's good enough against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah,” he said. Cook also commented on Pope’s early vulnerability at the crease, joking, “The issue I've always said about Pope, and I don't think this changes, is his first 20 balls, Tuffers (Phil Tufnell) is more likely to get through his first 20 balls.

”

He added, “Lots of judges of players have said that Bethell is really good, but at Warwickshire he struggled like a year ago, he struggled and was batting six behind (Sam) Hain, (Alex) Davies and guys that were picked ahead of him all the time.” The final decision on the No. 3 spot will rest with head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes as England prepare to take on India in what will mark the start of a new era and a new WTC cycle.