Ollie Pope’s back in the nets and keen to prove his fitness for England tours
England batsman Ollie Pope has returned to the nets as he steps up his bid to return from injury in time for England’s tours of Sri Lanka and India.
Pope shoulder injury
The Surrey batsman had surgery after dislocating his shoulder in the third and final Test against Pakistan in August.
Pope – who suffered an identical injury while playing for Surrey in 2019, leading him to miss three months of the county season – shared a clip of him receiving throw downs from England coach Paul Collingwood.
Pope wrote on Twitter: “Nice to be back hitting this week! Few half volleys from @Colly622 to start things off.”
Keen to get back in the mix
The 22-year-old will be keen to retain his place after being an ever-present in the behind-closed-doors summer Test series wins against the West Indies and Pakistan.
He registered half-centuries against both sides, including 91 in the final Test against the Windies to help seal a 2-1 series victory. However, he averaged an underwhelming 26.87 across the six Tests this summer.
An England statement following his surgery read: “It is hoped that Pope will return in time for England’s winter tours of Sri Lanka and India starting in the early part of 2021.”
The first of two Tests against Sri Lanka, a tour which was cancelled earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, begins in Galle on January 14 before England head to India in February.
Latest
-
News
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.
-
England
Andrew Flintoff would be excellent England coach – Rob Key
The former national team captain will lead Northern Superchargers in The Hundred this summer.