England have made a decision on vice-captain Ollie Pope for the first Test against India, with the Surrey batter under pressure from rising star Jacob Bethell.

Warwickshire’s Bethell, 21, appeared to have cemented his place in Ben Stokes’ team when he struck three half-centuries from first wicket down in New Zealand in late 2024.

However, he missed last month’s innings win over Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge due to a stint at the Indian Premier League and Pope took his chance, scoring 171 after returning to the No 3 role, having slipped down the order while keeping wicket in the winter.

Bethell has been troubled by a minor back niggle in the build-up to the opening match of five versus the Indians in Leeds, but declared himself 100 per cent ready and England made the call between the pair on selection rather than fitness grounds.

Bethell will now have to wait for a vacancy in the side, with England opting to keep faith in Pope – at least for the first match of the five- match series.

Pope will, though, know there is pressure for hids position He will feature in an unchanging England batting order from the Zimbabwe win.

England have made a decision on the place of Ollie Pope amid pressure on his England place

Youngster Jacob Bethell has been pushing Pope after impressing in New Zealand

Captain Ben Stokes, though, has opted to stick with what he knows and retain Pope for game

That side includes Zak Crawley – who also made a ton against Zimbabwe – and Ben Duckett.

Another Warwickshire player in veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes is in the XI, though, after missing the four-day contest with the Zimbabweans as he rehabbed an ankle injury.

Woakes is joined in the attack by Durham’s Brydon Carse, who is playing his first Test on home soil, Josh Tongue, of Nottinghamshire, Stokes and Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir.

And England were given a further boost two days out from the match at Headingley with Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson joining in practice following a hamstring tear – suggesting one of the major players in the rise to No 2 in the world Test rankings last year is on course for a return at Edgbaston later this month.