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Ollie Pope is the real deal, right? The future of English cricket. The next Joe Root.
On England’s radar from being knee-high to a grasshopper, Pope was fast-tracked into Test cricket in 2018 as a 20-year-old with only 15 first-class games under his belt but a reputation that had English cricket buzzing with excitement.
Unsurprisingly, the diminutive right-hander found India’s excellent pace attack a baptism of fire, but having returned to Surrey and continued to put big runs on the board, he was soon back in England colours and registered his maiden Test century in an apparently career-defining 2020.
However, a recurrence of an old shoulder injury stopped him in his tracks and when he reappeared on England’s tour of India in February, he found a collection of turning pitches and an expert home attack too hot to handle. For the first time in his career, Pope looked like he might not belong. By the end of the series his approach had become frenetic, his mind scrambled.
A return to home shores this spring was welcome, then, and 555 runs from seven County Championship matches so far this season might suggest India was nothing more than a dip in form that will pale into insignificance at the end of what will surely prove to be a long and distinguished international career.
Still, when Pope steps onto the field at Lord’s next week he will be playing in his 18th Test match. A newcomer no more. A solitary hundred and an average of 31.92 aren’t the sort of numbers that will take England to number one the world, and certainly not the numbers that will see Pope become the great player many have predicted.
Pope has gone beyond potential now, and ahead of an Ashes series Down Under, the two upcoming series this summer represent some of the most significant moments of his career to date. Up against two outstanding pace attacks, and in conditions that might be hard work for batsmen, the weeks ahead are sure to be challenging.
I’m a Pope fan. A big one. Regular readers of these pages will know that only too well, and under normal circumstances – and with no Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to worry about – I’d want him in my series staking plan for top England series batsman.
His form for Surrey certainly points to him being a play at anything north of 5/1, but the frenetic nature of Pope’s approach in India concerns me and even when he compiled a typically stylish 131 against Hampshire in April, he could be seen tinkering with his set-up as frequently as every few overs. It didn’t stop him overcoming an attack that featured Kyle Abbot and Mohammad Abbas, but he has clearly been searching for something.
His stance has had a different look to it since India: he is more upright at the crease and appears determined to get across to off stump and be more open. Of course, change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it becomes a necessity at the highest level as one strives to evolve and improve in the face of new modes of attack from opposition bowlers armed with pages of statistics and hours of video footage.
He’ll get there, I’m sure of it. England seem sure of it, too. But while Pope tinkers with his game and searches for perfection, bettors must weigh up just how much confidence they can have in a young player rich on talent, but needing to overcome a few demons while staring down some terrific opposition bowlers.
For the most part, top bowler markets are a worthwhile angle for punters to pursue. I think this is even more relevant in T20 cricket when pacers tend to do the baulk of their bowling at the death, and thus have a greater chance of picking up cheap wickets.
Top series bowler markets – more specifically in Test cricket – are always worth serious consideration and Dom Bess and Jack Leach were good winners for these pages in the winter.
However, this forthcoming series might not offer the same opportunities with England’s expected rest and rotation policy making it hard to bet with confidence, while Trent Boult’s unavailability for the first Test at least will disappoint his supporters.
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