sport news England cricket chief Key backs captain Stokes and coach McCullum to unlock the ... trends now

England are backing the new Test partnership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum to bring the best out of Ollie Pope in a position he has yet to fill.

Pope will bat in the problem spot of three, where he has never batted for Surrey, in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2 in the first gamble of the new era.

But Rob Key, the managing director, believes the captain and coach he has appointed to drag England away from the bottom of the World Test Championship table can unlock the huge potential of a gifted but under-achieving batter.

‘It’s not a concern,’ said Key of batting Pope out of position in what will be his first Test since the Ashes. ‘He has the technique and temperament and it’s up to us to get the best out of him.

‘If you asked who is the best batsman for any position in the side you’d say Joe Root but after that we feel Pope is the man. Our bet is that in this environment we can get the best out of him. If Ben and Brendon can unlock it there’s a seriously good Test cricketer there.’

The elevation of Pope was one small surprise in a streamlined 13-man party for the first two Tests that includes two newcomers in Matty Potts and Harry Brook and the return of the experience of the big two bowlers in Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Durham’s Potts, 23, looks likely to play at Lord’s, not least because of the absence of so many injured bowlers, but Brook will start in reserve after England decided to throw Jonny Bairstow straight into the side at five on his return from the Indian Premier League.

‘Injuries to so many bowlers is definitely a concern and we are trying to find out why it is happening but I do like the look of Potts,’ said Key. ‘He is in because of his county form and we are excited by what he offers. We see him as a point of difference.’

Potts, the leading wicket-taker in the Championship this year with 35 victims, will probably

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