POPE THE BIG HOPE
Gower says run-machine Ollie will pick up where he left off
OLLIE POPE might find himself batting in front of empty stadiums this summer, but he could be getting bums off seats in an England shirt for years to come.
That’s according to David Gower, who entertained Test audiences in an England shirt for almost 15 years.
Flame-haired Pope has been on fire for England since making his debut against India in August 2018.
He scored his first Test century against South Africa this winter, hitting 135 not out as England pulled off an innings win in Port Elizabeth in January.
Pope finished the series with 266 runs at an average of 88.
He then looked in pristine condition in Sri Lanka before England’s tour was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“He did everything right,” said Gower (below), who has just been appointed president of the Lord’s Taverners.
“Ollie is a very natural cricketer. Whenever you look at an emerging talent, you look at the aesthetics and the runs that they’ve got on the board.
“The great thing about TV these days, too, is that you can almost look into a player’s eyes and see if there’s a sense of confidence.
“As he got all his runs in South Africa, you could see him enjoying himself, which is always a good sign.
“You could also see his determination. Every box looked to be ticked.
“Every player has his ups and downs and you’ll inevitably have a time when things don’t quite go your way.
“Everything clicked for him in
South Africa and he has everything you need to succeed at the highest level.
“He’s short in stature, but a very big tick for England going forward.”
The halting of global cricket would have been considered a tall story before the pandemic hit.
But after three months of inactivity, the West Indies touched down for what promises to be a unique Test series last week.
Gower admits that a crowd is an essential part of any Test match. But he also believes the show must go on – whether supporters are there or not.
He said: “It’s a huge challenge for all, but the fact that we’ll get cricket on to the screen, cricket into the newspapers and there will be a Test series – that’s an extraordinary achievement.
“Everyone has had a chance to get hungry for competitive action. Now is the time to get going again.”