England number three Ollie Pope has been brutally savaged by English and Australian fans alike following another disastrous display with the bat in Adelaide.
While the 27-year-old is far from alone in the batting culpability stakes during the Ashes series, the nature of his poor first innings dismissal to Nathan Lyon for just three runs triggered a torrent of judgement and damnation.
Somewhat surprisingly given its usually positive ‘stiff upper lip’ tone, the criticism was especially scathing on the official Barmy Army X account where fans were quick to point out the irony of a man named ‘Pope’ having career-threatening struggles in the City of Churches, Adelaide.
“The actual Pope would do a better job batting,” commented one fed-up fan.
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“Another conclave expected soon, then,” replied another.
“Any white smoke yet?”
“Get the black smoke out because he needs replacing.”
“Let me know when we have elected a new number three. Smoke through chimneys is fine. RIP Pope.”
You get the picture.
While Pope’s place in the England side was thought to be under threat from 22-year-old Jacob Bethell after a sub-par showing in the Second Test in Brisbane, the veteran of 64 Tests was controversially retained—yet another decision that appears to have spectacularly backfired on Ben Stokes and Brendan McCullum.
Regardless of the outcome of the third Test, Pope’s position now seems untenable heading into the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Pope’s gone.#Ashes
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) December 18, 2025