By SABC Sport
4th July 2023
England vice-captain Ollie Pope has been ruled out for the rest of the home summer with a dislocated shoulder in another blow to his side's Ashes hopes.
Pope suffered the injury while fielding early in the second Test at Lord's, and later aggravated the problem after a miscommunication with match officials led England to believe they were not permitted to use a substitute fielder in the second innings.
Scans on Monday revealed that he would require surgery and he will now be out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
In the short term England are likely to draft in Dan Lawrence, the spare batter in their 15-man squad, for Thursday's third Test at Headingley.
He won the last of his 11 Test caps last March and has not played since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge of the side. England have decided not to call up any additional batting cover.
A statement from the ECB read: "England and Surrey batter Ollie Pope has been ruled out of the rest of the LV= Insurance mens Ashes series after dislocating his right shoulder during the second Ashes Test at Lord's last week.
"Scans in London on Monday revealed the full extent of the injury and he will miss the rest of the summer campaign and will require surgery.
"He will work closely with the England and Surrey medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation."