Pope Makes His Case With India In Sight

Batter's 171 against Zimbabwe a nudge to the England hierarchy, who look forward to Bethell's return from IPL

- Ali Martin

Test match that began with England saying they wanted to be better at media interactions and show a touch more humility ended with the captain growling about his words being twisted. And they say a week is a long time in politics.

It was my question that sparked all this, as it happens. The day before the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, I asked Ben Stokes about Jacob Bethell, the conversations that surrounded his absence to play in the Indian Premier League, and whether, as the "incumbent No 3" who made such an impression in New Zealand, he would be "straight back in" for the series against India.

That this referred to the playing XI felt implicit, and when Stokes talked up Bethell and told those present to put "two and two together", so too did an instant return. But Stokes also went on to praise James Rew, the spare batter in Nottingham, and in his mind this made it perfectly clear he was referring to Bethell returning to the squad. Not that the word "squad" was used.