Stokes backs vice-captain Pope after crucial Test century

CRICKET: England skipper Ben Stokes has rallied behind vice-captain Ollie Pope, claiming his Trent Bridge century against Zimbabwe saw off an “agenda” against him.

- 

England won their first game of the summer by an innings and 45 runs against opponents whose resistance only lasted until the third afternoon in Nottingham, with Shoaib Bashir finishing the tourists off with a career-best haul of six for 81.

The game had earlier been set up by a hat-trick of top-order hundreds from Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Pope - the latter two having faced question marks over their place in the side.

With rising star Jacob Bethell set to return from the IPL in time for next month’s India series, there was speculation that a change was in the offing.

Stokes inadvertently fuelled that on the eve of the match when he praised Bethell and added, “I think you put two and two together and you probably know what's going to happen”.