SA cricketer Lloyd Pope saves Australia with 8/35 against England in under 19 world championships

A brilliant match-saving under 19s world champions performance has experts already annointing Adelaide’s Lloyd Pope as the next Shane Warne.

Adelaide’s Lloyd Pope took eight wickets as Australia beat England in the ICC U19 World Cup in New Zealand. Picture: Dianne Mattson/Getty Images

SOUTH Australian Lloyd Pope was earmarked as the next high priest of leg-spin bowling.

The Kensington cricketer and Redbacks rookie, 18, was the talk of the under-19 world championship in New Zealand yesterday after taking a matchwinning eight wickets as Australia beat England to advance to the tournament’s semi-finals.

And he stood out — with a wild shock of red hair, the unusual name and celebrations every bit as intense as Shane Warne’s after every wicket.

Pope turned the match after the Aussies were bowled out for just 127, tearing through the English order, taking 8-35 as the Poms were skittled for just 96.

Respected commentator Kerry O’Keeffe put his own slant on Pope’s feat.

“White smoke (is) coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel,” O’Keeffe said on Twitter. “Cricket has a new Pope — Lloyd Pope — a Jaffa-headed 18-year-old leg spinner from Adelaide.”

Pope, who grew up in Queensland and moved to Adelaide as a 10-year old, had a previous eight wicket haul for Kensington’s second XI but this was by far his best bowling — and on the biggest stage.

Leg spinner Lloyd Pope demolished England with 3/35 in a matchsaving effort that restricted his opponents to just 96. Picture: Dianne Manson/Getty Images

He started playing as a medium-pacer before his father, Myles, noticed that he could turn the ball when they were mucking around in the nets impersonating various bowlers.

For those who follow junior cricket, Pope has been impossible to miss in recent years.

He was the leading wicket-taker in both the under-17 and under-19 national championships representing SA and took the most wickets for Australia in an under-19 series against Sri Lanka.

Pope played down the predictable comparisons with Warne — who was a match winner at the 1999 World Cup — when the topic came up after his haul yesterday.

But Warne, whom he had met once, has been an enormous influence.

“(I met him) just once,” Pope said. “I’ve seen him at Adelaide Oval and had a chat and it was really good to meet him.

“He’s had a huge influence on cricket and certainly my bowling as well.

“But I tend not compare myself to him.

“He’s been there and done that so that’s a learning tool for me, watching him bowling.

“But comparisons ... I don’t really think about them too much.”

Warne was quick to tweet his congratulations.

“This is terrific & brings a huge smile to my face,” he tweeted.

“Lloyd give it a rip — well done & congrats ! Spin to win my friend.”

This is terrific & brings a huge smile to my face. I had the pleasure of meeting this impressive young man in Adelaide a while ago ! Was nice to have a bowl with him too - Lloyd give it a rip - well done & congrats ! Spin to win my friend https://t.co/K4Ue2jaUfw

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 23, 2018

Originally published as SA cricketer Lloyd Pope saves Australia with 8/35 against England in under 19 world championships