Latest news with #Pope
Evening Standard
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
England vs India: Judgment awaits Brendan McCullum and Ben Stokes in epic year
Bethell's fine start to life means that although the shirt remains in Pope's possession for now - and Stokes has said it would have been a 'remarkable' decision to drop his vice-captain - two lean Tests may prompt England to make the swap. Before Pope's century against Zimbabwe, his form had been substandard, reaching 30 only three times in his previous 17 innings. What's more his record against India (average 24.60) and Australia (average 15.7) is poor. There was one way England could have picked both, which was to leave out Shoaib Bashir and go without a specialist spinner, which England sources had not ruled out. It always seemed unlikely, however. With spin playing less of a role in recent years in Australia, where pitches are more seam conducive, it is a team balance that may be an option for the Ashes later this year.
North Wales Chronicle
21 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
It would be remarkable to drop Ollie Pope after 171
Jacob Bethell is pushing hard for a place in the red-ball side as he continues his sharp ascent through the ranks but while he was at the Indian Premier League last month, Pope firmed up his spot at number three with a knock of 171 against Zimbabwe. If there were ever any doubts over him holding on to his shirt, that innings at Trent Bridge extinguished them and he remains the man in possession heading into a huge five-match series that begins on Friday at Headingley. Stokes, who has been steadfast in his support for Pope, said: 'The 'big selection' (idea) did not come from us. It would be remarkable to choose someone else if their last knock was a 170, and that's pretty much all I need to say on that. 'Scoring 170 definitely doesn't do anyone any harm, but having him at number three since I've been captain over a three-year period, averaging over 40, it speaks for itself.' The presence of Bethell, who deputised impressively in New Zealand before Christmas and turned in some highly accomplished performances in the recent white-ball games against the West Indies, means there is at least an element of added pressure on Pope to continue producing. Stokes acknowledges the noise is growing but is relaxed about Pope's ability to navigate it. 'In this day and age it's very tough not to see all that speculation, just because of how easily accessible things are. You don't even have to go and hunt for it,' he said. 'But I think scoring 170 in his last Test match has sort of shown how well he's handled that extra scrutiny. 'When you're a kid you dream about playing for England and obviously it's an unbelievable thing, but then the other side of it is that you come under the pump a little bit and that's part of the territory.' This week's trip to Yorkshire marks the start of a new World Test Championship cycle, a matter of days after South Africa triumphed over Australia in the final at Lord's. Stokes has been a long-time sceptic of the tournament's uneven design, branding it 'utterly confusing', and his side will once again play the most Tests over the next two years. Long-form series against both India and Australia over the next seven months mean it will once again be an uphill task but he is focusing on day-to-day business in the hope the wider goal falls into place. 'If we win enough games of cricket, then we'll find ourselves there at the final at the World Test Championship,' he said. The two most capped players in Test cricket history… Now with their very own trophy 😍🏆 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2025 'I think that's probably a better way of saying that we don't focus on it. We focus on every game that we have in front of us, on the series that we have in front of us, and if we win games of cricket, we will find ourselves at the World Test Championship final. If we do get there, then we'll look to win that.' Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed this summer's victors would win the newly minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named in honour of the nations' record wicket-taker and record run-scorers respectively. 'It's a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself,' said James Anderson. 'The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments. To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I'm looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer.'
South Wales Guardian
21 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
It would be remarkable to drop Ollie Pope after 171
Jacob Bethell is pushing hard for a place in the red-ball side as he continues his sharp ascent through the ranks but while he was at the Indian Premier League last month, Pope firmed up his spot at number three with a knock of 171 against Zimbabwe. If there were ever any doubts over him holding on to his shirt, that innings at Trent Bridge extinguished them and he remains the man in possession heading into a huge five-match series that begins on Friday at Headingley. Stokes, who has been steadfast in his support for Pope, said: 'The 'big selection' (idea) did not come from us. It would be remarkable to choose someone else if their last knock was a 170, and that's pretty much all I need to say on that. 'Scoring 170 definitely doesn't do anyone any harm, but having him at number three since I've been captain over a three-year period, averaging over 40, it speaks for itself.' The presence of Bethell, who deputised impressively in New Zealand before Christmas and turned in some highly accomplished performances in the recent white-ball games against the West Indies, means there is at least an element of added pressure on Pope to continue producing. Stokes acknowledges the noise is growing but is relaxed about Pope's ability to navigate it. 'In this day and age it's very tough not to see all that speculation, just because of how easily accessible things are. You don't even have to go and hunt for it,' he said. 'But I think scoring 170 in his last Test match has sort of shown how well he's handled that extra scrutiny. 'When you're a kid you dream about playing for England and obviously it's an unbelievable thing, but then the other side of it is that you come under the pump a little bit and that's part of the territory.' This week's trip to Yorkshire marks the start of a new World Test Championship cycle, a matter of days after South Africa triumphed over Australia in the final at Lord's. Stokes has been a long-time sceptic of the tournament's uneven design, branding it 'utterly confusing', and his side will once again play the most Tests over the next two years. Long-form series against both India and Australia over the next seven months mean it will once again be an uphill task but he is focusing on day-to-day business in the hope the wider goal falls into place. 'If we win enough games of cricket, then we'll find ourselves there at the final at the World Test Championship,' he said. The two most capped players in Test cricket history… Now with their very own trophy 😍🏆 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2025 'I think that's probably a better way of saying that we don't focus on it. We focus on every game that we have in front of us, on the series that we have in front of us, and if we win games of cricket, we will find ourselves at the World Test Championship final. If we do get there, then we'll look to win that.' Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed this summer's victors would win the newly minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named in honour of the nations' record wicket-taker and record run-scorers respectively. 'It's a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself,' said James Anderson. 'The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments. To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I'm looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer.'
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Fans really got Pope Leo to join in a sports chant at the Vatican
Fans really got Pope Leo to join in a sports chant at the Vatican The Pope is participating in White Sox chants. What a crazy timeline we live — Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) June 18, 2025 Pope Leo, as we found out after he was chosen to lead the papacy, is a Chicago White Sox fan and not a Cubs die-hard, which has led to a lot of jokes and costumes and such. It's also led the pope to getting a new White Sox hat, and a lot of attention on the time that he used one hand to catch a puppet thrown to him (sports pope? Sports pope!). And now, the first American pope has been shown on camera driving through Vatican City greeting people there ... and joining in on a White Sox chant. Despite the fact that the team continues to be a total mess as the South Siders rebuilds slowly, the pope hasn't dropped his fandom: Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, stuns in a White Sox cap. — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 11, 2025 Fans on Twitter loved the pope joining in the White Sox chant "Getting a White Sox chant going with the pope has to be an incredible feeling." Getting a White Sox chant going with the pope has to be an incredible feeling — Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) June 18, 2025 "I cannot wait for the Pope to throw out the first pitch at a White Sox game." I cannot wait for the Pope to throw out the first pitch at a White Sox game. — Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) June 19, 2025 "I'll never get over the fact that not only is the pope a Chicagoan, but a Southside White Sox fan? This will never get old to me." I'll never get over the fact that not only is the pope a Chicagoan, but a Southside White Sox fan? This will never get old to me. — Courtney Finnicum (@courtney883) June 19, 2025 So cool. We need more of this.
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Dropping Pope for India Test would have been 'remarkable', says England's Stokes
There were suggestions vice-captain Pope and rising star Jacob Bethell were vying for the same batting spot in the first game of a five-Test series at Headingley, starting on Friday. Bethell impressed on England's New Zealand tour in November and December before Pope underlined his credentials with a mammoth century during an innings victory against Zimbabwe last month. Bethell missed that match, opting instead to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. Stokes, a loyal supporter of 27-year-old Pope, was emphatic in his backing of the batsman at a press conference on the eve of the match. "The 'big selection' (idea) did not come from us," he said. "It would be remarkable to choose someone else if their last knock was a 170, and that's pretty much all I need to say on that. "Scoring 170 definitely doesn't do anyone any harm, but having him at number three since I've been captain over a three-year period, averaging over 40, it speaks for itself." Bethell, 21, has enormous talent and has impressed in all three international formats, though he is yet to score a century in professional cricket. The debate over how he fits into the Test side will continue to rage but Stokes believes Pope has the maturity to block out the noise. "In this day and age it's very tough not to see all that speculation, just because of how easily accessible things are," said the captain. "You don't even have to go and hunt for it. "But I think scoring 170 in his last Test match has sort of shown how well he's handled that extra scrutiny." The match at Headingley signals the start of a new World Test Championship cycle, just days after South Africa defeated Australia in a memorable final at Lord's. Stokes has been a longtime critic of the WTC's format, labelling it "utterly confusing", and England will once again play the most Tests over the next two years. Five-match series against India and Australia threaten to make England's bid to qualify for the 2027 showpiece harder, but Stokes believes he is better off concentrating on the task in front of him. "If we win enough games of cricket, then we'll find ourselves there at the final at the World Test Championship," said the all-rounder. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the winners of the upcoming series would receive the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named in honour of England's record wicket-taker and India's top run-scorer. "It's a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself," said James Anderson, who retired from Test cricket last year.
