KEEP FAITH WITH POPE

Cook: Choose Ollie for Ashes opener... it's an easy decision

- BY JOSHUA PECK

SIR ALASTAIR COOK has told England to make the easy decision and stick with Ollie Pope for the first Ashes Test in Perth next month.

Three has been plenty of debate over whether experienced Pope, 27, or Jacob Bethell, 21, should bat at three in the opening Test in Australia.

Pope has been a regular at three in recent years, and has nine Test centuries, though Bethell’s impressive white-ball form over the past 12 months has put him in contention.

But Cook believes it is a simple call for head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.

“I would put Ollie Pope at three,” said Cook. “It’s quite an easy decision actually. You've got someone who's been part of this buildup for three or four years.