Outside rope

As England prepares to walk into the fire of another Ashes summer, former Australian captain Ian Chappell has singled out one visiting batter who could face the fiercest scrutiny: Ollie Pope.

The 27-year-old, despite nine Test centuries and an average in the mid-30s across 61 matches, heads into the five-match series under pressure — and Chappell believes Australia will be licking its lips at the prospect of him batting at No. 3.