Ashes 2021/22: Ollie Pope’s Sydney grade cricket stint with Campbelltown-Camden Ghosts

English Test cricketer Ollie Pope has failed to make a dent in the Ashes so far, but four summers ago the then fresh-faced teenager made his name in a golden summer of Sydney grade cricket.

Four years ago, Ollie Pope arrived on Australian shores for a summer of Sydney grade cricket with Campbelltown Camden, affectionately known as the Ghosts – a decision he has previously credited to accelerating the birth of his international career.

The then 19-year-old began with a run-a-ball century against St George Cricket Club boasting a bowling attack of Josh Hazlewood, current English teammate Ollie Robinson and NSW quick Trent Copeland.

Current England Test batter Ollie Pope receiving his Campbelltown-Camden cap from former English Test player Barry Knight in October 2017. Picture: Facebook

Pope has been struggling at the crease during this summer’s Ashes series. Picture: Quinn Rooney

From that point on the wicketkeeper batter had captured the respect of his teammates and opponents and helped his Ghosts charge up the table to be crowned minor premiers with his contribution including 994 runs, including three centuries, 38 dismissals with the gloves and an average of 63.64.

It was a summer which saw him praised in NSW parliament and celebrated by his Australian club as putting Campbelltown “on the map” as a go-to destination for promising English cricketers.

Ollie Pope (far left) in the Ghosts dressing sheds. Picture: Facebook

Pope made his England Test debut less than a year after his Sydney grade cricket campaign. Picture: Ben Stansall

Fast forward to 2021 and four Ashes innings later – featuring meagre scores of 34, 4, 5 and 4 – Pope’s fondness of Australia is likely deteriorating rapidly with the young cricketer’s spot in the England Test team expected to be up for debate in the lead up to the third Test match.

His Australian host and longtime Campbelltown-Camden secretary Jason Ellsmore said his first impression of a 19-year-old Pope, who lived at a flat at the family home for the 2017/18 summer, was as a “fresh-faced kid” and “pleasant boy”, whose single flaw was failing to embrace vegemite.

Jason Ellsmore.

Ellsmore said Pope was a professional in every sense of the word during his time Down Under, with the teenager not wasting a day to develop his cricket talents. As a person the future Test cricketer couldn’t be faulted, joining the Ellsmore family for BBL outings and devouring a chicken parmigiana before his weekend’s grade cricket, joked by Jason Ellsmore as Pope’s lucky charm.

Ollie Pope in action at Adelaide Oval. Picture: William West

His cricket nous had club stalwart feeling like he was watching cricket with a live-in commentator, with the teenager making observations a couple of overs before the broadcast experts would.

“Looking at this young boy and listening to him talk cricket I thought ‘you have the potential to captain England one day, you are a smart kid’,” Ellsmore said.

“I’ve probably shared that more since he has been selected for England but I remember thinking at the time he was on another level.”

About six months after leaving Campbelltown, Pope made his English Test debut at the Home of Cricket and went on to make over 1000 Test runs at an average of 31.

The success of his picture-perfect Australian summer with the Ghosts may now haunt the English cricketer, as he battles to recapture the magic which saw him emerge as one of England’s brightest prospects.