Since Stokes took over the reins in the longer format, Pope was promoted to bat at number 3 and retained the wicketkeeping gloves over a fit Ben Foakes for the series against Pakistan, which England is currently leading 2-0 with one more Test to go. Under the Stokes-McCullum leadership this year, Pope has scored 643 runs in nine Tests across 18 innings at an average of 40.18. This also includes two centuries and four fifties, with the best score of 145.
Labuschagne has consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings with a career-best 937 rating points after compiling his third three-figure knock in the two-match ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against the West Indies.
Beginning on Wednesday, the men in blue will play two Test matches in Bangladesh. If they succeed there, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy competition that follows might end up being one of the biggest in recent memory.
Australia are currently at the top of the standings. They are in a good position to reach the finals but there are at least four other teams in contention.
Pakistan, who had a good chance of securing top WTC standings before the series find themselves in difficulty as they have slipped to No. 6 on the table.
Pacer Mark Wood, spinner Jack Leach and batter Harry Brook were the stars for England as they overcame resistance by Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz to defeat Pakistan by 26 runs in the second Test at Multan to clinch the three-match series by 2-0
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