Surrey putting faith in Ollie Pope as they chase T20 heaven

In the runs | Ollie Pope will hope to pick up in T20 where he has left off in the Championship with Surrey
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Will Macpherson4 July 2018

Ollie Pope has even surprised himself this summer. Aged 20, only one man — his captain at table-topping Surrey, Rory Burns — has more than his 653 Championship runs, which includes three centuries.

Now, Pope’s attention turns to T20, the format in which he settled into the side last year and that his rubbery wrists and fast feet suit perfectly. Tomorrow at Lord’s against Middlesex and on Friday at the Kia Oval against Kent, he will be one of depleted Surrey’s most important players.

“Everyone looks forward to going out and showcasing T20 skills,” he says. “The brand of cricket England are playing is so exciting. It might not look it, but it’s a tactical game really. I have to work out my role, then go and let fly in front of full houses at the Oval.”

Like many breakout summers, Pope’s was built on a strong winter. He spent the bulk of it treading the well-worn path to Sydney’s grades, playing for Campbell-Camden. It was a spell rich with runs (996 of them), but enriching, too. He made such a contribution to club life that he was commended in New South Wales’ state parliament by Chris Patterson MP, his club’s vice-president. That’s one way to say thanks.

“It’s a great experience for a young guy because I hadn’t played a massive amount of really good, tough cricket,” he says. “It was great for me, having responsibilities, being the overseas player, fending for yourself, not knowing people. It made me more independent and I learnt to look after myself.”

From Sydney, Pope flew to Barbados for the North-South series. His two innings brought 106 runs and he left with his reputation enhanced again, not least because he kept wicket too. Adaptability is his greatest asset, with the bat and in the field.

Perhaps the most important confidence-builder did not even involve Pope directly. Surrey last year lost the totemic presence of Kumar Sangakkara but opted to back Pope and Ryan Patel to replace him, rather than sign a big name. Pope has repaid Alec Stewart as handsomely as his director of cricket could possibly have imagined.

“It was never really a conversation we had, but I gather we didn’t look to sign anyone, we were trusted instead,” says Pope. “You feel responsibility, because we have big roles to play, but it makes you feel confident. It’s nice being backed from the top. I hope I’ve rewarded their faith with my runs.”

Pope is one of a raft of youngsters coming through together. Last August, he, Patel, Sam Curran and Amar Virdi became the first set of four teenagers to play a Championship game together since the Second World War. A fifth, Will Jacks, has followed and is set to open on T20 debut tomorrow; at 19 he is already the youngest List A centurion in the club’s history.

Do not bet on the production line drying up, or on Curran being the only one to win international honours.

Already, some are suggesting that Pope might be next and he admits he cannot avoid the chatter on social media.

He has spent time with England, during the First Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, and a first Lions call-up seems imminent.

“Mark Ramprakash invited me to come in, to have a net at lunch, be in the changing room and huddle and just soak it up,” he says. “There’s more cameras about, but it’s no different really. It was great to experience it.”

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