'Demotion is not a plan to dump Pope'

BUT KEY ADMITS BETHELL CAN STILL PUSH ASHES BID

- BY RORY DOLLARD

ROB KEY denies there is “an elaborate scheme” to oust Ollie Pope in favour of Jacob Bethell for the Ashes.

Pope’ grip on the pivotal No.3 shirt has been the source of intense scrutiny for most of the year and, although he held the spot for all six Tests this summer, there are no guarantees he will remain in place against Australia.

Bethell will get the chance to play his way into the first-Test reckoning during next month's white-ball tour of New Zealand.