England’s Ashes number 3: Pope or Bethell?

With the first Ashes Test in Perth now less than a month away, England’s selection committee - Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Rob Key, and Luke Wright - face one major question in the batting department: Ollie Pope or Jacob Bethell?

Pope remains the man in possession, yet doubts linger over whether that will still be the case when England take the field in Perth. Young Barbados-born Jacob Bethell clearly oozes talent and has all the shots required to thrive at number three in Test cricket. He is highly regarded by both teammates and coaches, and despite his youth, carries an experienced head on young shoulders. Bethell also possesses a sharp cricket brain, something recognised when he was trusted with the captaincy during the recent T20 series against Ireland.

He announced himself superbly on Test debut against New Zealand in December 2024, looking assured, composed, and completely at home at the highest level. Given England’s “Bazball” philosophy - where the emphasis is on taking calculated risks and putting pressure back on the bowlers - Bethell seems a natural fit. His fluent strokeplay, positive intent, and fearless approach, combined with his undeniable talent, make it feel almost inevitable that he will become a multi-format regular for years to come.

However, the key question is whether that moment has arrived just yet.

England’s current selection approach under Stokes and McCullum often focuses on ceiling rather than consistency (just look at Zak Crawley) - on a player’s potential to change a match on their best day. By that logic, Bethell arguably offers the higher upside. He’s the type of player who could play an innings that swings a Test, capable of taking the game away from Australia in a single session.

Yet Pope remains a highly competent and far more experienced number three, with several standout performances at the highest level - none more memorable than his mesmeric 196 against India in a gruelling trial by spin. He is also a valued member of England’s leadership group, having stood in as captain in Stokes’ absence. However, his recent removal as vice-captain has only fuelled speculation of a possible change at number three.
Some critics of Pope describe him as frenetic, especially early in his innings, and there is concern over his second-innings average, which remains well below expectations for a player of his class. The number three position is pivotal to the success of any Test side - even more so for a touring team in Australia. Think back to Jonathan Trott, who averaged 89 in the famously victorious 2010/11 series. A sense of calm is crucial at number three, to protect England’s greatest player - and arguably the key to the series - Joe Root, from a fresh Australian attack with the new ball.

Bethell, for all his promise, is still raw. He is yet to score a Test hundred and looked slightly out of sorts in his outing against India, suggesting he may be a little undercooked heading into such a colossal series. The Ashes is an unforgiving environment, and making your first appearance in Perth against the combined pace of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood is a daunting task even for the most naturally gifted of players.

So, after all that, it’s clear England have a tough decision to make.

For what it’s worth, I expect them to stick with Ollie Pope, given that this Stokes–McCullum project has been built with the Ashes as its ultimate test. It would seem odd to disturb what appears to be a settled top seven. However, you never quite know with this side - and if it were up to me, I’d make the change to Bethell and chase the upside of the talented left-hander. His ability to disrupt the Australian bowlers, both with his positivity and his left-handedness, could just provide the spark England need.

Let me know what you think. Bethell or Pope?