'If he isn't leaving the IPL to come and play a Test match...': Alastair Cook backs Ollie Pope over RCB's Jacob Bethell in top-order for India Test series

“Ollie Pope's 170 meant a lot to me, he and (Zak) Crawley were under the pump and they delivered,” Cook told The Independent.

 

 

Bethell was criticised for not playing in the four-day Test. However, he left the IPL to play in the limited-overs series against West Indies at home while Phil Salt stayed. 

Cook also recalled when he felt Bethell will bat at no.3 against India after his performances on New Zealand tour. He feels Bethell would've been guaranteed the no.3 spot had he played the Test against Zimbabwe.

“When I left New Zealand I thought they'll go with Jacob Bethell but if he isn't leaving the IPL to come and play a Test match, for whatever reason that is, it's not a punishment, but that's the way the cards have fallen whether it's Bethell's fault or not,” Cook said. 

 

 

“If he's that desperate to play I would have said he would have come out and played, then he'd have guaranteed his England selection. I don't care what's going on behind the scenes on that.”

 

 

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Pope's troubles against Bumrah

Pope does not have a great record against India in the red-ball format. He averages under 25 with 615 runs from 25 innings. He has just one century and fifty against India in the format. He has had trouble facing India's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah of late.

“Will Pope play at number three in Perth (Ashes)? He's in possession at the minute and we'll find out if he's good enough against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah,” he said.

 

 

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Cook recalls Bethell's County struggle

The 40-year-old does not have high hopes from Bethell despite the all-rounder impressing many early in his career. He talked about his struggle in County cricket.