Australia leg-spinner Lloyd Pope ripped the heart out of England at the Under-19 World Cup on Tuesday and propelled his team to the semi-finals after capturing 8-35, the best ever figures in Under-19 World Cup history.
What made Pope’s feat special was the fact England were 47-0 chasing a paltry 128 for victory and collapsed to 96 all out.
The 18-year-old South Australia leg-spinner is already being compared to the legendary Shane Warne, which is understandable as not many leg-spinners pick up eight wickets in a one-day innings. The leggie seems to have what it takes to be a top-class spinner.
Here are three things you should know about Australia’s latest spin sensation.
LLOYD’S FATHER PUSHED HIM TOWARDS LEG SPIN
Generally, it is coaches who ask young cricketers to pick disciplines after spotting certain talents at the nets. However, in Pope’s case it was his father Myles who encouraged him to try leg spin.
“We were living in Cairns and I was mucking around in the nets impersonating people and trying different things when Dad said I should try a few leggies,” Pope was quoted as saying by the Adelaide Advertiser. “I managed to turn the ball and he liked the look of them and convinced me to bowl some in my next game.
“I took six wickets (for Barron River), which was pretty good for an eight-year-old, and thought ‘this is all right’ so I’ve been bowling leggies ever since.’’
In one of the most remarkable comebacks of all time, Lloyd Pope took 8/35 – the best figures in all ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cups – to skittle England for 96, defending 127 in the process.
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 23, 2018
Match Report 👉 https://t.co/uhTc5vakT6#ENGvAUS #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/kcIhN0yIuu
DOMINANT AT YOUTH LEVEL
Pope has ruled the roost in Australia’s underage championships. Over the last two seasons, Pope has taken 54 wickets at a fine average of 16.1 from 23 matches in three underage tournaments – one at Under-17 level and two at Under-19.
He also picked up 15 wickets in five games for Australia in an Under-19 series against Sri Lanka in April last year.
Well bowled young man ! Enjoy the moment & congrats again 👍 https://t.co/4OJuhfb9kG
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 23, 2018
MORE RASHID KHAN THAN SHANE WARNE
One look at his bowling effort against England and you realise he bowls fairly quick and relies heavily on googlies, a lot like Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Click here to watch his wickets against England.
Four out of the eight wickets that Pope took against England were of googlies. His quick arm action make it that much more difficult to play the sweep shot against him. Interestingly, Pope has taken two wickets or more in six of his last eight limited overs matches.
