The Ashes 2025-26: England’s Jofra Archer out of tour as Jacob Bethell replaces Ollie Pope for MCG

The Pope’s replacement with Bethell is the latest stage in long-running speculation about England’s third place position.

Pope’s highest score in six innings on this Ashes tour was 46, extending his run of eight Tests without a half-century against Australia.

The 27-year-old has averaged 24.38 in his last seven tests since making a century against India at Headingley in July.

Overall he averaged 34.55 in 64 Tests. This is the first time he has been left out of a Test since the 2022 West Indies tour.

The Surrey international has been under pressure since Bethell made his Test debut in New Zealand at the end of last year; The left-hander had made three half-centuries in as many matches.

But Bethell has had a stop-start year since his breakthrough tour of New Zealand.

He played only three first-class matches last year; one of which was in the fifth test against India at The Oval, where he scored sixes and fives.

The 22-year-old scored 71 for the England Lions against Australia A in Brisbane earlier this month.

Speculation that Bethell could arrive for the start of the Ashes series increased when Pope was replaced as vice-captain by Harry Brook when the England squad was announced in September.

Instead, Pope became the first electoral victim of the failed attempt to reclaim the urn.

“He won’t be the only one in the dressing room disappointed with the way things are going,” Stokes said. “It’s a tough place to be down 3-0, going away like this.

“Everyone in the locker room will be very disappointed.”