Ollie Pope is set to be added to England’s Test squad ahead of the Test series against India. The 23-year-old batsman who suffered a dislocated shoulder while fielding against Pakistan in August 2020 which required surgery. It was the second time he dislocated his shoulder.
While Pope was a part of the touring squad in Sri Lanka and India, he had not been an official part of the team. Instead, he has been able to continue his rehabilitation with England’s support staff and adapting to conditions in Asia.
“Pope has fully recovered from a left shoulder injury sustained in August 2020 against Pakistan. The England medical team are satisfied that he is available for selection. The 23-year-old has practised with the full squad over the past two days,” said an official statement.
The 23-year-old has been able to bat without any issue for some time; however, there were doubts over how his shoulder would withstand the demand of long duration in the field and the need to dive and throw.
Having made it through England’s first full training session of the tour unscathed on Tuesday further cemented Pope’s chances of being a part of the England squad.
If Pope is deemed to be unfit for return, there are chances that Dan Lawrence will keep his place. Chances of Moeen Ali being recalled as another spin-option are also high.
