POPE’S MESSAGE
I dream of being England No.4 and batting like Kohli
WHEN you’re desperately seeking salvation perhaps picking someone with the surname Pope isn’t a bad place to start.
Ollie Pope, 21, was last week named in England’s touring party for the two Tests in New Zealand this winter.
The Surrey star has already played two Tests for his country but missed the majority of this summer as a result of a dislocated shoulder.
But after finishing the county season with a Steve Smith-like average of 80, he could be thrust straight into the Test team against the Black Caps.
And straight into the No. 4 position in the order – a slot that some of the best batsmen on the planet call home.
Pope acknowledged: “Batting No.4, you have responsibilities.
“You look at a lot of international sides, it’s where they put their number one batter. You look at Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson.
“If you’re batting at four you always have that responsibility.”
Pope saw Kohli ( right) up close last summer when England met India.
And he will get a good look at Kane Williamson when Joe Root’s side clash with the Kiwis this winter. Both those batsmen find themselves in the world’s top-three, behind only Smith – a man England have seen quite enough of in the recent months. Root is currently sixth.
But if Pope brings his county form into the Test arena he could soon find himself in pretty elite company.
It didn’t take him long to find his feet for Surrey after almost three months out, smashing 221 not out against Hampshire last month.
By the end of that week he had been rushed to Headingley as a potential replacement after Jason Roy took a blow to the head in the nets in the run-up to the Third Test.
The call-up ultimately didn’t arrive. But Pope hasn’t had to wait long for his second coming in Test cricket.
“I had my sniff against India in 2018, batted three times but wasn’t quite able to make that spot my own,” he recalled.
“This is a massive opportunity to put down a real marker and score some big runs. That’s the aim.
“What I have done for Surrey is that when I’ve got myself in I’ve occupied the crease for a fair while. That’s probably one of my strengths I guess.”
It’s not a quality that many of England’s batsmen seem blessed with lately.
Few players have shown such an appetite for runscoring as Pope has since his county debut in May 2017.
England hope that hunger thrives at the top table too.