Injured Ollie Pope says he is hoping to be fit and available for selection by mid-November

By India Today Sports Desk: England’s Ollie Pope is hoping to be fit and available for selection by the middle of November after sustaining a shoulder injury during the Ashes 2023 series.

Pope’s performance in 2023 was commendable. His batting statistics reveal an average of 34.45 from 38 matches between 2018 and 2023, with a total of 2136 runs. His highest score was an impressive 205. He also managed to hit four centuries and eleven half-centuries during this period, showcasing his batting prowess.

In the 2023 season, Pope’s batting average was an impressive 59.00, with a high score of 205. His performance against Ireland was particularly noteworthy, where he scored a remarkable 205 runs in a single innings.

The Ashes 2023 series brought a major setback for Pope. During the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, he sustained a serious shoulder injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the series. The injury was so severe that it required surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the summer. This was a significant blow to the England team, as Pope had been named England’s vice-captain on May 16, 2023.

Despite this setback, Pope’s contributions to the England cricket team have been significant. His rapid transition from an inventive T20 strokemaker to a heavy Championship run scorer has not gone unnoticed. His technique has even drawn comparisons to that of Ian Bell.

Speaking to the Cricketer, Pope said that his shoulder is a good as it can be at this point. The England vice-captain said he is aiming to be fit and available for selection from the middle of November and is hoping to get some cricket under his belt before the India tour in January.

“The shoulder is as good as it can be at this point. I had surgery a couple of weeks ago now, I’m happy to get past that and I’ve got another three or four months of recovery to get it right,” Pope was quoted as saying by The Cricketer.

“I’ll be fit and available for selection from the middle of November, so whoever picks me for what I’ll take it on and hopefully get some cricket in before that India tour in January,” said Pope.