THE ASHES 2025-26
Chris Woakes dislocated his left-shoulder during the series against India © Getty
Rob Key, England’s Men’s Managing Director, has stated that all-rounder Chris Woakes is not in their plans for the foreseeable future. In a media interaction only a day after England announced their squad for the Ashes tour, Key confirmed that Woakes is unlikely to feature in England’s plans beyond the upcoming Ashes.
“It’s been as tough a time for someone, I think, in cricket terms, the timing of it (the shoulder dislocation) as much as anything else, and the chance of reoccurence for the immediate future for Chris Woakes,” Key said.
“He was running out of time to be ready for the start for the Ashes. And then once you get out of an Ashes series, you’re often looking at the next cycle, really. So Chris Woakes isn’t in our plans at the minute… at all.”
Among the more interesting bits about England’s Ashes squad was Harry Brook’s replacement as the vice captain of the side, taking over the duties from Ollie Pope, who even led the side in the absence of Ben Stokes in the recently-concluded Oval Test against India. The decision was taken following a discussion between Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes.
“It’s pretty simple, really – we think (Brook) is the best person for the job,” Key said. “He has had more experience now in leadership and I think that Harry Brook deserves it. There are no other ulterior motives, other than the fact that we think Harry Brook is the best person to be the best vice-captain.
“I think he (Pope) felt that it was coming. Vice-captaincy is not always the most important decision you have to make. We could have gone down the road of not having a vice-captain. When Popey has done it, he’s done it well. He’s fitted into so many different roles that we’ve asked him to do over the past few years and done them all well. Harry Brook is just the better leader and will be the better leader going forward, so that’s why he gets that job.”
Even as he praised Brook’s leadership credentials, Key confirmed that the decision to drop Pope as the vice captain of the team has no bearing on his position as the Test No 3, a position for which Jacob Bethell has been seen as a promising prospect. He insisted that the competition for the position is independent of the leadership change.
Speaking of the conversation around the Pope-Bethell debate for the No 3 position in England’s line-up, Key said, “Someone like Ollie Pope has played really well in a tough position, he has had to deal with this all along, as have any players when they have lost a bit of form. That’s part and parcel of being an international cricketer. That is why it’s tough.
“There is not, like, an elaborate scheme where, if we take the vice-captaincy off Ollie Pope, it makes him easier to drop. It doesn’t matter if you are vice-captain or not. If we don’t feel you are the right person wherever you are batting – whether that’s an opener or No.5 – we’ll end up bringing in someone we think can do the job better… Ollie Pope is the man in possession. We’ll find out what that XI will be, probably two days before (the Perth Test).”
© Cricbuzz
