Michael Vaughan believes dropped catches, not Ollie Pope’s captaincy, are to blame for England’s tough position against India.
Vaughan weighs in on England’s Test struggles
Michael Vaughan, one of England’s most celebrated captains, has voiced his opinion on the current Test series against India, placing the onus on dropped catches rather than the leadership of Ollie Pope.
Vaughan, who masterminded England’s famous 2005 Ashes victory and won 26 of his 51 Tests in charge between 2003 and 2008, commented on the team’s situation.
Did England’s dropped catches cost them dearly? Vaughan certainly thinks so.
Pope, 27, is leading England for the fifth time, having previously stepped in for an injured Ben Stokes. Under his temporary charge, England faces a steep climb in the decisive fifth Test. After being set a target of 374 – a chase that would rank as their second-highest successful effort in Tests – they ended the third day on 50-1.
“It is not Ollie Pope’s fault England are in this position,” Vaughan stated. “It is the dropped catches.”
The former skipper noted that while Pope is a strong vice-captain, the role doesn’t automatically translate to effective leadership. “I look at someone like Ollie Pope, who looks a fantastic vice-captain,” Vaughan said. “He is a brilliant person to have next to the captain to come up with ideas. Sometimes vice-captains aren’t brilliant captains.” He drew a parallel to his own experience: “Marcus Trescothick was a magnificent vice-captain for me but you wouldn’t want to give him the captaincy.”
On Saturday, with Chris Woakes absent due to injury, England’s bowling attack relied on the seamers Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Jamie Overton. Despite eventually dismissing India for 396 in their second innings, England’s efforts were significantly hampered by six dropped catches.
Vaughan also observed Pope leaving the field during play. “There were a couple of times he nipped off the field,” Vaughan commented. “It might have been for a comfort break, but it looked like he was going off for tactical advice. I don’t know well enough and am not in the dressing room. I just want the best captain who is the best leader leading the England side.”
Ultimately, Vaughan’s message is clear: the team needs the best leader, and being a great vice-captain doesn’t guarantee success at the helm. His assessment highlights the critical impact of fielding errors on the match’s trajectory.
