Surrey’s Ollie Pope makes storming start to County Championship campaign

BY MARCUS HOOK

Ollie Pope was in a class of his own against Hampshire last weekend as Surrey notched up their first win of the new season.

The 25-year-old applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 122 off 102 balls, though not before fashioning a hard-earned 91.

Last season’s champions helped Surrey win by nine wickets.

“Hampshire are probably one of the toughest opponents we’ll face this season, and they played some really good cricket over the four days, so the boys were buzzing to get over the line,” said Pope.

“We bowled really well on day three and didn’t feel we got the rewards we wanted. But we trusted ourselves and said: ‘If we keep doing those good things, the playing and misses will turn into nicks’.

“Our fast bowlers, as they did the previous week at Old Trafford, were amazing and they gave us an opportunity to chase down a pretty gettable score on a surface that got better throughout the game.

“The way Dom Sibley and Rory Burns started things off in the second innings was crucial. It was always going to be a new ball wicket, with the slight dents in it, but as soon as the ball got a bit softer we cashed in.

“I really enjoyed it. It was slightly different to the first dig, which was hard work, but I was really happy with how I played. It was good to find the middle of the bat a few times.

“It was tough work in the first innings, in the overcast conditions against their attack, and although I was annoyed to get out for 91 it was okay once I got back into the dressing room. I felt chilled because I had played well overall.”

Pope saw Surrey home in tandem with Dom Sibley, who is back at the Oval after six summers with Warwickshire. Sibley finished with 79 not out in an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 193.

“It was good to bat with Sibbers as well,” said Pope. “When you go into a new season you obviously set yourself goals in terms of where you want to be at the end of the season.

“As a batter, you can sometimes put yourself under pressure. So, you can start to think to yourself: ‘Have I got the scores in the first game I wanted?’ But he’s a seriously good player and he’ll score a lot of runs for Surrey. So, it’s the first fifty of many, I’m sure.”

Pope has underlined the South Londoners’ desire to make it back-to-back four-day titles. He said: “Last time we won the trophy, in 2018, we were pretty poor the year after. We’ve been pretty clear we want to draw a line under regaining the trophy in 2022 and learn from a lot of things. But we’ve got an amazing amount of talent in that dressing room, and everyone is really pleased that we managed to come out on top in the Hampshire game.”

After being dropped by England following a dispiriting Ashes two winters ago, Pope has also credited the combination of Ben Stokes as England captain and Brendon McCullum as head coach of the Test team for making him a better player at international level.

England lost 4-0 and Pope averaged just 11.16 with the bat in three Tests. So, it came as a pleasant surprise when Stokes phoned the Surrey batter, ahead of last year’s series against New Zealand, to tell him he was inked in at number three for the whole summer.

Pope’s record in Test cricket since then reads 12 Tests played, two centuries and 809 runs scored.

“I feel a much better player,” said Pope. “I’ve got a better defence and a better game plan. That’s come through just constantly playing. Our new mindset in that England team means I go into a Test series really excited for it, rather than thinking: ‘Oh, if I miss out this time, I hope it’s not going to be my last’.

“They should be the best times of your life, playing for England, and they [Stokes and McCullum] have made that pretty clear. Your career’s too short for you not to love those moments so that’s a good message for me. You’ve got to enjoy it while you’re there.

“What worked for me last year was that when I was at Surrey and I was around for the start of the Championship, I didn’t necessarily think I was going to be playing for England. I wasn’t thinking about England.

“That’s my plan again this year. I’ve got half an eye on it just from a mental and physical state, so you know you can peak at the right time.

“But while I’m here I’m going to 100 per cent concentrate on this because that’s what’ll put me in good stead for the Ashes. It’s something to really look forward to, something I’m really excited for. But while you’re here in a Surrey shirt, why not enjoy this as well?”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD