England's No. 3 conundrum deepens as Pope falters again in Ashes

England's No. 3 problem deepened Sunday as Ollie Pope endured yet another Ashes failure, dismissed for 17 as England chased a world-record 435 to keep the urn alive at Adelaide Oval. The series tally now stands at 125 runs for Pope, at an average of 20, and it comes with 64 Tests behind him.

Pope's struggles have intensified questions about whether he can anchor England's order at No. 3, with two Tests remaining in Melbourne and Sydney. He is 64 Tests into his career and has an Ashes batting average of 17, with 16 innings without a half-century, a track record that has some analysts calling for a reconsideration of the first drop role.

Jacob Bethell, 21, has been waiting in the wings after a prolific spell at No. 3 in New Zealand, where he averaged 52 for a while, and after spending time in India with the IPL. He stayed in India during the latest England selection cycle and watched Pope feature for a dominant 171 in a one-off Test against Zimbabwe before striking a century in the first Test against India at Headingley. Brendon McCullum has described their ongoing Pope-vs-Bethell discussion as a “good problem to have,” while Ben Stokes has repeatedly backed Pope as a versatile performer capable of filling multiple roles, including leadership responsibilities when unavailable.

Yet that loyalty has increasingly been questioned as Pope repeatedly failed to steady England’s top order. The captaincy-and-selection dynamic around Pope and the No. 3 slot has become a flashpoint in the series, with England facing two more Tests in Australia and the prospect of Bethell receiving a longer run if the results do not improve.

Crawley, who steadied the innings with an composed 85 in Perth and took his series total to 214, offered a candid defence of Pope’s resilience: “That’s just cricket, to be honest. I’ve had lots of tough times, and so has everyone who’s ever played cricket. He’s got big hundreds when we need him to against tough opposition. He’s had a couple of quiet games, but I think he’s an unbelievably good player who plays in a really hard role at No. 3 and I think he’s playing well. Obviously he’d have wanted more from himself than what he’s got, but don’t underestimate some of the good knocks he’s played.” The dressing room’s continued support comes as England try to salvage the series.

Pope’s career highlights — including an unbeaten 135 against South Africa in 2019-20, 145 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, and 196 against India in Hyderabad — once built a case for long-term tenure at No. 3. The ongoing debate, however, has shifted attention to whether Bethell’s temperament and technique could yield steadier runs when English fortunes in this Ashes campaign are at stake.

The broader context of selection policy also features in the discussion. England’s relationship with the IPL, and the timing of English players’ availability, has influenced Pope’s opportunities. Bethell remained in India with limited playing time for Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Pope was granted another opportunity against Zimbabwe, and England’s leadership now faces a critical decision about whether to prioritize short-term gains or invest for the longer term. The two remaining Tests will likely shape how England balance experience with potential when a No. 3 reshuffle could alter the trajectory of the series.

With Melbourne and Sydney still to come, England’s bid to win the urn hinges on more than one performance. A change at No. 3 would carry immediate implications for the batting order and could provide Bethell with valuable exposure to high-pressure Ashes conditions, while a continued faith in Pope would demand a rapid return to form that has thus far eluded him in the series.