Redbacks sensation Lloyd Pope puts Queensland Test hopefuls in a spin with seven wickets at Adelaide Oval
SOUTH Australian leg-spinner Lloyd Pope’s killer wrong’uns wreaked havoc against Queensland, the flame-haired sensation becoming the youngest bowler to take seven wickets in a Sheffield Shield innings at Adelaide Oval.
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A STAR was born as Lloyd Pope became the youngest bowler to take seven wickets in a Sheffield Shield innings and feel “on top of the world.”
Heralded as the next Shane Warne, flame haired prodigy Pope (7/87) took just his second game to live up to the hype against Queensland in Adelaide.
He fashioned a killer wrong’un watching YouTube videos of Afghan wizard Rashid Khan but Pope, 18, was wonderfully blase about his record breaking achievement.
“I wasn’t aware of that, don’t really follow statistics. I am a cricket nuffy but don’t hunt through books looking for records,” said Pope, playing just his third, four-day game.
“I don’t really follow twitter, use it.”
Pope’s unplayable, undetectable wrong’uns lit up the contest as they had taking 8/35 in the under-19 World Cup for Australia against England at Queenstown in January.
There was symmetry in second-game revelation Pope claiming leg-spin rival Mitch Swepson for his maiden, five-wicket haul as the Bulls were dismissed for 231.
“It was a great feeling,” said Pope, also the second youngest leg-spinner to take five wickets in a Shield innings, rewarded for beautiful drift and control.
“I was top of the world, it was awesome really to take some wickets for my state. Everyone was getting around me.
“We talked a little bit as a bowling group they had been susceptible to spin, Adam Zampa has done well against them in the past. It was nice to get some reward.”
Former Australian opener Joe Burns (63) was left bemused and short of the ton he coveted for a Test comeback when trapped in front by a vicious Pope turner. Burns had put on a 53-run, fifth-wicket stand with Jack Wildermuth. Pope then turned another wrong’un square to pin all-rounder Wildermuth (38) on his crease.
Michael Neser (13) was out last ball before tea, stunned by a delivery that ripped back into his pads and onto the stumps. Neser was Pope’s third victim of the second session to a wrong’un. Swepson (0), Jimmy Peirson (42) then Brendan Doggett (18) all fell attacking Pope as the rookie showed the value of tweaker who can clean up a tail.
Test hopefuls Matt Renshaw (3) and Marnus Labuschagne (3) fell cheaply to Joe Mennie while Pope kept pegging the Bulls, gaining appreciable turn from a first day track made for seamers.
Expert glovework from keeper Harry Nielsen had collected a leg-side chance from Pope’s first ball of the day to dismiss a set Sam Heazlett (18).
Tired of being cut, Pope unleashed a wrong’un onslaught to wrongfoot the Bulls.
“It was a good wicket for spinners and the other bowlers helped out tremendously.
“My Dad always tells to back myself. I was a but lucky off the wicket, some turned but the plans were working,” said Pope, whose maiden first-class wicket against New South Wales last week was a wrong-un.
The Redbacks (0/39) will resume on Friday with opener Jake Weatherald on 20 and Conor McInerney on 19.
