Former England captain Nasser Hussain has shared his views on Ollie Pope’s potential nature as captain as he prepares to lead the side in the Test series against Sri Lanka. While Hussain shared that the Surrey batter comes off as a fretter, he hopes he will carry the same formula as Ben Stokes. However, the 26-year-old will lead England for the first time, prompted by Stokes’ hamstring tear in The Hundred 2024 as well.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hussain said, “I still see Ollie as a bit meek, a bit of a worrier, a bit of a fretter- you can see that in his batting. So he has to bluff it a little bit. Stokes does not bluff it. But he’s been brought up in the school of Stokes and McCullum, so he will just continue the exact form of messaging. He won’t be changing a lot.”

“I don’t think it comes as naturally to him as it does for Ben Stokes. Ben Stokes actually epitomises what he talks about. Eoin Morgan often talks about in white-ball cricket, if you’re going to send a message you have to do that message yourself. I think Stokes does that better than Ollie Pope,” he further stated.

However, Ben Stokes hasn’t missed a Test since becoming England’s full-time captain in 2022 as well. Nevertheless, he played with a knee injury for most of 2023 and underwent surgery for the same the following year as well. Meanwhile, former white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan believes the presence of Stokes was important.

“I think Ben will be very similarly aligned to me. I stood back, took the drinks. I was there for support. The timing of this doesn’t come at a bad time. For two years now, Ben and Brendon have really nailed a template and a formula in how they want to go about their business, particularly when their backs are against the wall. And each and every player already has that clarity,” he concluded.