RadioTimes.com<\/a> at a media day for The Hundred \u2013 which takes place immediately after The Ashes later this summer \u2013 at his home ground, The Oval in South London.<\/p>\nHe said: \u201cIt feels really good. I found out yesterday, Baz [McCullum] called up before obviously announcing the squad and said that I was going to be vice-captain going forward. It\u2019s really exciting, it\u2019s a big honour to obviously help Stokesy out wherever I can.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of guys that we can call upon as well, there\u2019s so much experience in there, guys who have played hundreds of Tests.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019ll be sort of a chain of communication, which we\u2019ll find a way to make that work really, really nicely. I\u2019m really honoured to be given the role and excited to get going.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to try and go about this Ashes series exactly how we\u2019ve gone about series in the past year or so. There\u2019s that extra bit of focus on it, which is exciting, but like I say, it\u2019s an honour to be given the role. I\u2019m looking looking forward to what lies ahead this summer \u2013 it should be really exciting.\u201d<\/p>
And what a time to be handed the role, a month out from the Ashes as England aim to claim the title for the first time since 2015, having won just two of 15 Ashes Test matches in the last eight years.<\/p>\n
Pope understands the weight of the occasion but firmly believes the England camp is confident of going all the way, despite harbouring major respect for their Australian counterparts.<\/p>\n
When asked whether England have what it takes to topple the Aussie visitors, Pope said: \u201cYeah, absolutely. Everyone\u2019s had a different preparation so far. Some of us have been playing county cricket, some in the IPL, but I think at the same time, all you want to feel going into an Ashes series is feeling like you\u2019re prepared, you\u2019ve hit enough balls in the nets, you\u2019ve sort of got confidence in your game and you\u2019re fresh as well. Fresh and excited and confident.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you\u2019ve been in India playing or you\u2019ve been here playing, I think that\u2019s all you need, especially as a batter, going into a big series like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s massive confidence within the group. There\u2019s a lot of respect for the Australians \u2013 they\u2019re obviously a very good side. They\u2019ve got a very good seam attack and some high class batters in all conditions, so we know it\u2019s not going to be an easy challenge, but we\u2019re confident in the way that we play and the way we\u2019ve gone about our stuff recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s confidence and hopefully we can go all the way and come in a couple of months\u2019 time to lift the trophy here.\u201d<\/p>