3 minute read

Ollie Pope's is only playing in his first Ashes series, but he already has a history of scoring runs against Test-standard attacks on Australian wickets.

It took Ollie Pope just two games to announce himself as a future England Test cricketer on his last tour of Australia.

Up against a St George attack led by Josh Hazlewood, and with Trent Copeland and England quick Ollie Robinson as support acts, this was as tough of an initiation a 19-year-old could face.

Some 112 balls later he walked off Raby Oval with 114 runs to his name for Campbelltown-Camden, clearing the rope three times in the process.

"He certainly commanded a bit of respect from that moment on," Campbelltown club secretary and Pope's billeting host Jason Ellsmore told AAP.

"I had immediate and regular contact from Sir Alec Stewart every few weeks.

"And he wasn't just giving one-line replies to what I sent, he would give me two or three paragraphs.

"I thought, he's the chairman of Surrey, he is really deeply interested in the progression of this boy."

Ellsmore's admiration and respect Pope is clear.

The pair continue to share a close bond after he housed him in his family's spare room he nicknamed The Vatican, with Ellsmore the second person he called after being told he'd make his England debut against India in 2018.

The club's secretary insists the only time he saw him troubled that summer was not on the bouncy wickets or against Test quicks, but rather when caught in a front-yard confrontation with a huntsman.

But Ellsmore isn't alone that appraisal.

Pope's last tour of Australia remains the stuff of legend in Campbelltown cricket circles.

The Ghosts had finished dead last in the previous season, winning just one game.

By the end of 2017-18, they were minor premiers and a shot at their maiden unlimited overs first-grade premiership.

"Our culture changed (with him)," current Ghosts captain Luke Webb said.

"He made batting look easy that day (against St George) and took the game away from them.

"He was a gun keeper too, took some sharp chances and legside stumpings."

Pope's century against Hazlewood and Copeland was one of three for the summer, as he hit 994 runs during his four-month stint and averaged a fine 63.64 in his 12 first-grade games.

"He loved the pace of the Aussie wickets," Ellsmore added.

"There was less nipping about them. And he found he had more time. And this was still against guys such as Hazlewood and co.

"You look at how he could play 360-degrees, and they're only the next level guys."

Such was his influence, Campbelltown made an argument that he should be able to stay and play finals rather than head to the Caribbean for a Surrey pre-season.

Ultimately, the idea was rejected and the club lost the last round of the season and bowed out in straight sets.

But the impression was made.

"I genuinely believe that he has potential to captain England one day," Ellsmore said.

"He has a great awareness of what is going on in the field.

"His cricket brain was exceptional. I remember thinking this guy seemed like he must have played 15 years of first-class cricket."

Also noted by teammates was his commitment.

Clubs in Sydney at times have even had to weigh up whether they could justify keeping them in first grade as they treated their stint as an Australian sojourn.

But not Pope.

"He did something every day that was cricket related," Ellsmore said.

"Whether it was a run, a gym or hitting balls.

"He also attended the international cricket school out of the SCG, so he would go in there twice a week.

"He never missed training with us. And when he wasn't doing that he always enjoyed watching cricket of course."

The Ghosts are only part of Pope's Australian learnings before his maiden Ashes series.

He enjoyed Michael Divenuto as his batting coach for three years, including the following 2018 county season where he helped Surrey to the title while averaging 70.42 and earning a Test debut.

He has also had success in South Africa, averaging 56.71 there last year on wickets similar to those found in Australia.

Pope's handling of Australia's quicks at the Gabba was evidence of that, as the only Englishman who looked comfortable in the first innings before falling on 35 while getting expansive and batting with the tail.

It's no doubt part of the reason England selectors opted for him over Jonny Bairstow in Brisbane, and makes him a genuine Ashes threat on batter-friendly wickets at the MCG and SCG as well as Adelaide during the day this week.

"The main thing (about that stint in Australia) is that it improves you as a cricketer," Pope said.

"As a youngster, six months playing matches under your belt, you learn a lot about your game.

"Not just about these conditions but I became a lot better batter while I was out here for six months."