SA spin sensation Lloyd Pope to lead Australia’s charge at World Cup

LLOYD Pope bowled pedestrian medium-pacers before his dad Myles got hold of him. Now he is Australia’s frontline spinner at the under-19 World Cup.

IN A SPIN: Emerging SA star leg-spinner Lloyd Pope has been selected in the Australian team for next month’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Picture: Keryn Stevens (AAP).

LLOYD Pope used to bowl pedestrian medium-pacers.

Then his dad Myles got hold of him.

“I reckon I was about eight when my dad encouraged me to bowl a few leggies,’’ said SA’s teenage spinning sensation.

“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.

“I managed to turn the ball and he liked the look of them and convinced me to bowl some in my next game.

“I was sceptical but 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.’’

Pope, 18, captured the most wickets at last year’s under-17 and under-19 national championships and was Australia’s leading wicket-taker in an under-19 series against Sri Lanka.

Now, after another strong showing at this month’s under-19 national titles in Tasmania where he took 15 wickets at an average of 17, he is the only South Australian named in a 15-player Australian squad to contest the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand next month.

“It’s a dream come true for me,’’ said Pope.

“Making the World Cup team has been in the back of my mind for a long time but I just had to concentrate on doing well for SA (which made the semi-finals) at the nationals and then see what happened.

“But to know I’m in the team now is awesome.’’

Born in Melbourne and raised in Cairns before moving to Adelaide at age 10, Pope plays at SACA premier club Kensington and made his first grade debut at 16.

Carrying the “next Shane Warne’’ label, he already has a Redbacks rookie contract.

Significantly, Pope gets most of his wickets bowled or leg before, illustrating his accuracy and ability to beat batsmen.

“When I was younger and started being coached I was told just to get my leg-spinner right but I liked having some fun and experimenting with different deliveries and it’s worked out OK for me,’’ he said.

Australia’s squad contains seven players from NSW, including highly-rated skipper Jason Sangha, three from Victoria and Queensland and one from SA and Tasmania.

The squad is: Jason Sangha (capt), Jack Edwards, Ryan Hadley, Baxter Holt, Jason Ralston, Param Uppal, Austin Waugh (NSW), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Nathan McSweeney (Qld), Lloyd Pope (SA), Jarrod Freeman (Tas), Zac Evans, Jonathan Merlo, Will Sutherland (Vic).