Playing for England ‘best time of your life’ claims Ollie Pope as Ashes series looms
As the LV= Insurance County Championship kicks off, Lancashire host Surrey at Old Trafford, in a battle of last season’s top two finishers. Surrey claimed the title and were crowned outright champions for the 20th time in their history.
Batsman Ollie Pope played a pivotal role in that title victory, scoring at an average of 70 runs per innings, with an impressive strike rate of 66.5. His splendid performances last season helped cement the London-born batter’s position at number three in the England side.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a fruitful summer as a part of a rejuvenated England side. Under the new leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England have won 10 of a possible 12 test matches in what has been the most successful period in English cricket for quite some time.
Pope hit 145 against New Zealand last June, a total that remains his best on the international stage. The revamped England coaching staff has helped Pope feel more confident in his ability on the pitch.
“I go into a test series now really excited for it rather than think ‘if I miss out this time I hope it is not going to be my last’. I look at it from that positive mindset now and Stokesy and Baz (Brendon McCullum) have really allowed that to happen.” said Pope.
He added: “I think it should be the best time of your life playing for England. Your career is too short for you to not love those moments, so I think that is a good message for me – you’ve got to enjoy it while you are there.”
The Surrey star had previously struggled to secure his place in the national team, but life under the new coach and captain has seen Pope ensure he is one of the first names on the England squad list.
His stature has grown on the international stage over the last few months, with Pope even serving as captain in two warm-up games over the summer in the absence of Ben Stokes.
On whether he would take up the captain role should Stokes be unavailable, Pope said: “We haven’t spoken about it. It is something that I think since I have done that first captaincy I try and watch Stokes a little bit more closely to see what he does with bowlers, what he does with the field, how he talks to his bowlers as well because that is only going to make your cricket brain better.
“It is something that I try and pick up a little bit more consciously now, but it is not a conversation that has been had. It’s just something that if it comes about then I feel confident and I feel like my cricket brain is good enough to allow that to happen.”
Pope did admit, however, that playing the role of captain had been something he enjoyed, adding: “It was good seeing a game of cricket from the bowler’s perspective – standing at mid off talking through different plans. It is obviously different in a warm up game when you don’t know the batters and those kinds of things but it was an enjoyable experience.”
“It is something that if it came about in the future then great, but for now I am just going to keep developing my cricket brain.”
As much as Pope may be dreaming of a future role as captain for England, however, he did make it very clear he wants Stokes to lead the line against Australia this Summer.
“There’s only one Ben Stokes in England.” Pope said.
“I think that is something that if he did get injured and someone had to do it, no one is going to try and replicate exactly what he does but they would take the ideas that he has implemented into the team.” he said, before hastily adding “but touchwood he won’t get injured.”
Ben Foakes ignoring media frenzy ahead of Ashes selection
Another man who has impressed on the international scene under England’s new leadership, is Pope’s county teammate Ben Foakes.
Given a fresh chance in the national side over the winter, Foakes took full advantage of the opportunity to leave selectors with a potential headache as the Ashes fast approaches.
As the media cast speculation over who may be selected as wicketkeeper, Foakes remains resolute in his decision to ignore the outside noise.
When asked about a potential battle for the gloves with England teammate Jonny Bairstow, Foakes said: “There is no benefit for me to concern myself with that. I found the easiest way to deal with that is to not worry about it.
“I think that’s where it kind of gets blurred lines sometimes with sportsmen is where all this external noise comes from. That can be a difficult thing but I found by staying off social media, things like that, I think it allows me to play just the game of cricket again and be more focused on whatever my job is that day.”
Much has been made of the potential return of England stalwart Bairstow, who missed the entirety of the winter after a freak accident on a golf course saw the 33- year-old break his leg and dislocate his ankle.
Foakes, however, played an important role for the national team when called upon. He hit his international best against South Africa, scoring 113* of just 213 balls. If he can carry his form with the bat and gloves into the county season, he will be difficult to leave out of the side to face Australia.
Speaking of the mood in the England camp ahead of the Ashes series against Australia, Foakes said: “I think any team that comes here, especially in home conditions, I think we back ourselves. Australia are obviously a fantastic side so it will be difficult but I guess the momentum we have got at the moment and some of the guys they’ve come in and they have excelled so much.
“I think it’s a great time to play the Ashes.”
