England Wins Zimbabwe Test as Stokes Defends Pope Amid Selection Debate

England captain Ben Stokes strongly defended vice-captain Ollie Pope following his commanding 171-run century against Zimbabwe, which helped England secure an innings and 45-run victory in their 2025 home season opener. Prior to the match, both Pope and Zak Crawley faced scrutiny amid speculation that rising star Jacob Bethell, returning from the IPL, might challenge their places ahead of the upcoming five-Test series against India. Stokes’ pre-match comments praising Bethell were widely interpreted as suggesting a change in the playing XI, but he clarified that he only meant Bethell would rejoin the squad, not necessarily replace anyone. Stokes criticized the media for twisting his remarks to fit a narrative, emphasizing Pope’s vital role as vice-captain and his strong performance at number three. Additionally, young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir played a crucial role with a career-best 6-81 to secure the win, despite a difficult start to his domestic season. Overall, Stokes affirmed Pope’s importance to the team both as a player and leader, dismissing any agenda questioning his place.