England captain Ben Stokes has come out swinging in defense of vice-captain Ollie Pope, slamming media speculation about his place in the team. Stokes made it clear that Pope’s role was never in doubt, praising him not only for his batting but also for his leadership on the field.
The match itself saw England cruise to an innings and 45-run victory, with Pope, Zak Crawley, and Ben Duckett all scoring centuries. Stokes emphasized the trust and bond within England’s leadership, stating, “He’s someone I lean on a lot out there.”
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Shoaib Bashir stole the spotlight with a career-best six for 81, finishing with nine wickets in the match. Stokes lauded Bashir’s “unbelievable natural ability,” calling his rapid progress “scary” and signaling a bright future for the young spinner.
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Stokes Defends Pope, Hails Bashir’s Brilliance as England Dominate Zimbabwe
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