OLLIE’S IN THE ZONE

Pope: Debut will be mind-blowing

OLLIE POPE will blow his mind if he gets the chance to make his debut tomorrow against India at Lord’s.

The 20-year-old Surrey batsman has played only 15 first-class matches but his stunning form in the County Championship has catapulted him into the squad for this week’s second Test.

He is averaging 85.50 for the season and replaces the poorly-performing Dawid Malan.

Pope revealed mind games have been key to his stunning rise and he has already pictured himself walking out at a sold-out Lord’s to face India.

He said: “I have been visualising it since I had the call. It’s quite a useful thing to do. I was watching a documentary called In the Zone and that was pretty useful.

“A lot of the players like to stand in the middle and imagine this bowler is running up to you. I’ll be doing the same thing before the game, if picked.

“I think I’ve had a good season so far and, from the people I’ve spoken to, they’ve given me the confidence in my own game to take the next step.

Backing

“You hear stories of the greats of the game, people like Alastair Cook made his (Test) debut, I think, at

21. So it’s not like it hasn’t been done before. “Hopefully I take my chance. I feel confident in my game and ready for the next step.”

Pope received heavyweight backing this week when India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at the age of 16, applauded his call-up.

“Everyone always says if you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” said Pope. “Hearing those stories are pretty inspirational. They make you realise what you can do.”

Pope is so young that he lists probable new teammates Cook and England skipper Joe Root as childhood heroes.

He added: “So far they’ve been really welcoming. They’ve all been that young lad making his debut so they know what it’s like and what the best things to say are to get me in the right frame of mind.”

Pope’s belief that he can star on the biggest stage was boosted by a man-of-the-match performance from fellow 20-year-old and Surrey team-mate Sam Curran in the first Test at Edgbaston.

The all-rounder’s five wickets and second innings

63 turned the game around for England, who eventually won a thriller by 31 runs.

Pope said: “I’ve played with Sam since we were 14 or 15. We have gone through the same path and the way he played last week gives me confidence to know I can do that too. It’s nice to do it with him.”

But he admitted a spell playing grade cricket in Sydney last winter kick-started this season.

He said: “I was game ready from the start, I found a bit of form and my method for now. I need to just keep riding the wave.”