Trescothick Hints Pope Will Be Retained At Three

Marcus Trescothick has hinted Ollie Pope will stay arsenic England's first-choice number 3 for nan Ashes, saying nan visitors are "very consistent" successful their selection.

England meet England Lions successful their only Ashes warm-up lucifer successful Perth from Thursday and are apt to section thing adjacent to nan XI that will statement up successful nan first Test connected 21 November.

Pope has been nether unit for his number 3 spot from Jacob Bethell for nan past year.

When asked who will capable nan domiciled successful nan circuit match, England adjunct coach Trescothick told BBC Sport: "I'm presuming nan aforesaid benignant of number 3 we've had for a play of time."

He added: "I tin only opportunity we are a very accordant squad successful what we're trying to do."

Pope averages 41.60 batting astatine number 3 for England, though has a wont of fading arsenic bid progress. In nan location summertime he made a period successful his first innings of nan bid against India, past passed 50 only erstwhile successful his adjacent eight.

When England announced their Ashes squad, Pope was replaced arsenic vice-captain by Harry Brook, appearing to make nan Surrey man much susceptible to being near retired of nan team.

At nan time, head of cricket Rob Key said Pope was nan "man successful possession" of nan number-three spot.

Bethell, 22, is an outstanding imaginable and made his first master period successful a one-day world against South Africa successful September.

The left-hander was portion of England's white-ball circuit of New Zealand past period truthful had nan chance to property his Ashes case, but could only negociate a highest people of 24 successful 5 innings.

Bethell is still apt to beryllium portion of nan circuit game. Any players from nan Ashes squad not successful nan England XI for nan three-day crippled will subordinate nan Lions XI.

With playing only 1 believe lucifer earlier nan first Test, England want to ramp up nan strength during nan crippled astatine Lilac Hill. Captain Ben Stokes, who often skips warm-up matches, is group to play his first cricket since July aft recovering from a enarthrosis injury.

Despite that, erstwhile England opener Trescothick said performances successful nan warm-up would astir apt not change plans for nan first Test against Australia astatine Optus Stadium.

"I conjecture everyone has an opportunity to liking their claim," he said. "As I mentioned, really accordant we've been pinch our squad selection, it's been very level.

"Bar nan overseas wounded we've not really chopped and changed a awesome deal. It's decidedly not going to alteration dramatically earlier nan commencement of an Ashes bid because personification puts their manus up by taking 5 wickets aliases gets 150.

"The squad has been what it has been for a play of clip for a reason, truthful that erstwhile you travel to large bid you are much settled and assured going into it."

Stokes is captious to England's chances and is connected way to play a afloat portion arsenic an all-rounder successful nan first Test.

The 34-year-old has not played since missing nan last Test against India. He bowled astatine afloat gait successful nan nets connected Tuesday and will bat successful believe connected Wednesday.

"As agelong arsenic he's happy and emotion good, he'll spell into nan Test matches playing a afloat role," said Trescothick of nan captain.

Fast bowler Mark Wood could besides play for nan first clip since February pursuing knee surgery.

"He's doing fine," said Trescothick. "He's evidently strapping up his assemblage and keeping nan knee good looked aft astatine nan moment.

"If he's moving successful and bowling astatine nan level he needs to and nan aesculapian broadside are happy wherever he is – I'm beautiful judge that's nan lawsuit – past he'll beryllium successful contention nan aforesaid arsenic everyone else."

Trescothick besides defended England's preparations. Ashes tours usually impact aggregate warm-up matches, but nether skipper Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum England person not played much than 1 circuit crippled connected their overseas trips of nan past 3 years.

It is simply a method that has served them good – they person won nan first Test of nan bid connected each 5 occasions.

However, a number of erstwhile players person questioned England's method, including legendary all-rounder Lord Botham successful Melbourne connected Tuesday.

"It's not nan measurement I would prepare," said Botham.

"I deliberation historically, you person to acclimatise erstwhile you travel down here. You've sewage to retrieve there's 24 cardinal group down here, not 11. And you person to return that connected board."

But Trescothick said: "Times person dramatically changed successful nan measurement that cricket is done.

"What we are doing for this bid isn't thing different from erstwhile we went to New Zealand, Pakistan aliases anyplace else. It isn't immoderate different from erstwhile India travel to England, aliases erstwhile Australia travel to England.

"People are talking astir it and I evidently respect their opinions, but nan measurement of cricket that is now played astir nan world, nan opportunities are not there.

"The strength of playing 5 Test matches, if we were to spell and play 2 aliases 3 warm-up matches connected apical of that, having done it myself successful nan past it is very, very tricky. We're happy pinch what we're trying to do."