Ollie Pope has opened up about the difficult experience of facing criticism from England supporters during his time at Headingley last summer. The batter was fielding on the boundary while debate over his position at number three continued, and he encountered taunts from spectators in the stands that left a lasting impression on him. The experience came during a challenging phase of his Test career following early struggles under Brendon McCullum's tenure.
Pope's fortunes shifted last week when Marcus North called him with unexpected news. The recall as a squad batter capable of filling positions three to seven came nine months after his dropping during the Ashes series, representing a significant moment in his career trajectory.
"There were people in the stands shouting 'enjoy your last Test mate!' I was like 'jeez, they're England fans saying that!'" Pope was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
The impact of lacking fan support weighed heavily on his mindset during this challenging phase.
"Every cricketer wants to be liked by the fans. I was at a point where I didn't feel that very much at all. We are very lucky to get amazing support, and it's such a cool feeling when people tell you they are happy for you on the good days. But at that time I probably didn't feel I was too popular in the game... and it doesn't help you perform," Pope explained.
"I was understanding, but disappointed because I hadn’t given the best account of myself," he continued.
The taunting at Headingley
The batter's record under McCullum showed marked improvement after his early struggles in Test cricket. Across 64 Tests, he averaged 34.6 overall, but his numbers improved significantly when moved to number three. In that position, he averaged almost 40 and scored eight Test hundreds, demonstrating his capability at the highest level.
"I have shown I am a Test cricketer," Pope said.
Demonstrating Test credentials
After his dropping in Australia, Pope returned to Surrey and spoke with England management about his route back to the side. Alec Stewart, England's director of cricket, felt Pope should drop to number four. An injury to Ben Foakes led Pope to occasionally keep wicket during his county cricket. Pope has been in strong form this season, scoring 510 runs at an average of 56.66 for Surrey.