OLLIE IS MY POPE IDOL
Captain Root admits he’s learning a lot from England’s rookie sensation
OLLIE POPE has already made such a major impact as a Test match batsman that even skipper Joe Root is learning from him.
Pope, 22, was the standout performer among the younger members of the England squad during the 3-1 series win in South Africa, scoring his first Test ton and averaging 88 in the three games he played after recovering from illness.
And after watching him manipulate the ball to weird and wonderful areas of the ground, Root has certainly taken note of his exciting new talent.
Never mind that the skipper has scored over
7,000 more Test runs than Pope, he too continues to learn and try to get better.
“It’s quite funny,” said Pope. “Rooty was one of my favourite players as I’ve been growing up over the last 10 years – watching him play has been awesome.
“He hit a shot – one of those ramps – and said, ‘I learned that one off you!’. That’s a big compliment from one of my favourite players growing up. But I learn a lot off him and that’s just the way batting works.”
Pope (with Root, right) has earned favourable comparisons with Ian Bell, with a similar style when he plays certain shots. He also has that great advantage that Bell possessed, which is time. Time to place the ball where he wants and time to cope with the faster bowlers.
It is why Pope will be a permanent fixture in the England side for years to come as the young guns continue to establish themselves.
And for now the Surrey man is not interested in moving up the order, as has been suggested by some. Instead, he knows he can continue to make a big impact at six. “Things have gone even better than I could have imagined,” he added. “And a few of us are definitely starting to feel established. “Obviously, we’re still young guys and I think that’s what we needed – a few scores under our belts to give you the confidence to know you can do it at this level, and doing it in a winning cause makes all the difference as well. “I love being in the side and wherever I’m told to bat, I’ll bat, and love it there. But, at six, I feel like I can offer a lot.” Stuart Broad was handed a 15 per cent match fee fine and one demerit point for using an “audible obscenity” during his bust-up with Faf du Plessis on the final day of the Johannesburg Test. Du Plessis escaped any sanction whatsoever, despite bumping his shoulder into Jos Buttler during the row.