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Ollie Pope says he is ready to step in as England’s emergency captain should Ben Stokes’s left knee not stand up to the rigours of five Ashes Tests in less than seven weeks.
Stokes has insisted he will bowl against Australia once the series begins at Edgbaston on June 16.
But Pope, who started his reign as Test vice-captain with a double-century against Ireland at Lord’s, believes he has spent enough time watching Stokes go about his business to answer the call – if required.
‘Fingers crossed Stokesy’s body’s all good,’ he said. ‘It’s going to take a hell of a lot for him not to be on the pitch even for a day’s play, knowing what he’s like. But if it did happen, I feel confident.
‘We’ve played a lot together as a team over the last year and a bit,
