England batter Ollie Pope joined Adelaide Strikers as a pre-draft signing for the BBL 2024-25 season. But he will be missing the Striker’s first game of the season against Sydney Thunder on December 17 as the England test side will be finishing their series against New Zealand on December 18.
With signing for the franchise, Pope will be playing alongside big stars like Alex Carey, Chris Lynn, Matthew Short, and D’Arcy Short. His T20 record with Surrey has earned him the deal from the Strikers.
Pope has a good record while playing for Surrey with an average of 33.25 across 50 games. But his recent performance in The Hundred 2024 for London Spirit could be a concern as he scored only 35 runs in five outings for the side.
🏴 English Test Captain Ollie Pope is joining us Downunder for #BBL14! Welcome Ollie! Read more: https://t.co/oZTuDHTtUB
BBL and WBBL tickets on sale now.#ourcityourteam pic.twitter.com/4JyngEH66h
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) August 21, 2024
While speaking about joining the BBL franchise Adelaide Strikers, Pope said, “Signing with the Adelaide Strikers is an incredible opportunity for me. Adelaide is such a fantastic city with a vibrant cricket culture, and the Adelaide Oval is one of the most iconic grounds in the world.”
“I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the passionate Strikers fans and being part of a team with such a strong reputation,” said Ollie Pope.
Pope has captained Surrey in the Vitality T20 Blast 2024, scoring 205 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 133.98.
Meanwhile, Strikers head coach Tim Paine expressed his delight over signing Pope and highlighted that his addition to the squad will be highly beneficial for the side.
“Ollie Pope is an exceptional talent with a proven track record at the highest level. His dynamic batting style and wicket-keeping abilities are a fantastic addition to our squad.”
“We’re thrilled to have him on board and believe he will be a key player for us this season. His experience and leadership will undoubtedly elevate our team,” said Paine.
Ollie Pope is currently leading England in the three-match test series against Sri Lanka. He became the 82nd test captain after Ben Stokes was ruled out for the series due to a hamstring injury he sustained during The Hundred 2024 competition.
England bowled out Sri Lanka for 236 runs in the first innings of the test at the Emirates Old Trafford Stadium.
Also read: BBL 2024-25 Squad, New Signings – Big Bash League
