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Tag: Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope: England’s Stylish Test Vice-Captain

Oliver John Douglas Pope, born on 2 January 1998, is a prominent English cricketer and the current vice-captain of the England Test team. Known for his technically sound batting and resemblance to Ian Bell’s elegance, Pope represents Surrey County Cricket Club in domestic cricket and has cemented his place as one of England’s most dependable Test batters.

Early Life and Background

Ollie Pope attended Cranleigh School, and interestingly, he is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Joseph Merriman, the school’s first headmaster. A multi-talented sportsman in his youth, Pope played football and hockey alongside cricket. He represented Guildford and Cranleigh Cricket Clubs and was part of Surrey’s youth setup from a young age. He made his first XI debut at just 15 and toured South Africa with the Surrey Youth Team, alongside players like Sam Curran and Amar Virdi.

Domestic Career Highlights

  • List A Debut: 28 August 2016 vs Yorkshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final.

  • First-Class Debut: 28 March 2017 vs Oxford MCCU.

  • Maiden First-Class Century: End of 2017 season vs Hampshire.

  • T20 Debut: 7 July 2017 in NatWest T20 Blast for Surrey.

During the 2017/18 winter, Pope played club cricket in Australia for Campbelltown-Camden District CC, scoring 994 runs and receiving praise in the New South Wales parliament for his performance.

Breakout Year – 2018

  • Scored 4 centuries with an average of 70.42 in Surrey’s County Championship-winning campaign.

  • Won the PCA Young Player of the Year award.

  • Finished as second-highest run-scorer in Division One with 684 runs.

Consistency and Form

  • 2019: Topped Surrey’s first-class charts with 812 runs at an average of 101.

  • 2021: Scored 861 runs in 9 matches, including a career-best 274 vs Glamorgan.

The Hundred

  • Drafted by Welsh Fire for the 2022 season of The Hundred.

International Career

Test Debut

  • Debut: 9 August 2018 vs India at Lord’s.

  • Scored 28 on debut; England won by an innings.

Key Milestones

  • 2019: Scored 75 vs New Zealand, followed by maiden Test century 135 vs South Africa* in Port Elizabeth.

  • 2020: Played all summer Tests, scoring 215 runs, including scores of 91 and 62.

  • 2021: Made 81 vs India and featured in the Ashes squad.

  • 2022: Hit 145 vs New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Vice-Captaincy & Leadership

  • Named England’s Test Vice-Captain on 16 May 2023.

  • June 2023: Scored the fastest Test double hundred in England (200 off 207 balls vs Ireland).

  • 2024: Led England against Sri Lanka in the absence of Ben Stokes.

  • 2025: Scored 171 off 166 vs Zimbabwe, becoming the first cricketer to score centuries against 8 different Test teams.

Recent Performances

  • 2024: Scored a match-winning 196 vs India in Hyderabad.

  • 2025: In the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, scored a century at Headingley, marking his third consecutive Test hundred and ninth overall.

  • Shared a 122-run stand with Ben Duckett; praised by Alastair Cook for his composed play, especially against Jasprit Bumrah.

Playing Style and Technique

Ollie Pope is often compared to Ian Bell for his elegant cover drives, ability to rotate strike, and compact, classical technique. Cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, and Brett Lee have noted his potential and poise under pressure.

Career Statistics (As of 2025)

Format Matches Runs Avg 100s 50s HS
Test 50+ 3300+ ~39.5 9 15+ 274
First-Class 90+ 8000+ ~53.0 25+ 30+ 274
List A 20+ 600+ ~32.0 0 5 90+
T20 30+ 500+ ~27.0 0 4 70+

Note: Stats are approximate and updated to early 2025.

Legacy and Outlook

At just 27, Ollie Pope has already established himself as one of England’s key middle-order batters. With growing leadership responsibilities, consistent performances across continents, and a sound technique admired by cricketing greats, he is expected to play a pivotal role in England’s red-ball dominance in the years ahead.