Adelaide Strikers sign Ollie Pope for BBL 2024-25

BBL (Big Bash League) side Adelaide Strikers announced the signing of ace England batter Ollie Pope as their pre-draft signing for the upcoming season of the tournament. However, with England’s Test side finishing their series against New Zealand on December 18, Pope will be missing Strikers’ first game of the season against Sydney Thunder on December 17.

With his signing to the franchise, Pope will be playing alongside many big stars like Alex Carey, Chris Lynn, Matthew Short, and D'Arcy Short. His T20 record with Surrey has been one of the biggest reasons why Pope has been roped in by Strikers.

With an average of 33.25 across 50 games for Surrey, Pope has a good record for the side. However, his recent outings in The Hundred for London Spirit could be cause for concern for the side. As Spirit finished last in The Hundred Standings, Pope managed to score 35 runs in five outings for the side.

Also Read: Harshitha Samarawickrama joins Trinbago Knight Riders for WCPL 2024

Announcing his signing, Ollie Pope took centre stage and talked about how good of an opportunity it will be for him and how he is looking forward to playing at the Adelaide Oval. 

"Signing with the Adelaide Strikers is an incredible opportunity for me. Adelaide is such a fantastic city with a vibrant cricket culture, and the Adelaide Oval is one of the most iconic grounds in the world. I'm really looking forward to playing in front of the passionate Strikers fans and being part of a team with such a strong reputation," Ollie Pope was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. 

Ollie Pope is an exceptional talent with a proven track record: Tim Paine

Furthermore, Adelaide Strikers’ head coach Tim Paine took centre stage expressed his delight over the signing of Pope, and opined that his addition to the squad will be highly beneficial for the side. 

"Ollie Pope is an exceptional talent with a proven track record at the highest level. His dynamic batting style and wicket-keeping abilities are a fantastic addition to our squad. We're thrilled to have him on board and believe he will be a key player for us this season. His experience and leadership will undoubtedly elevate our team," said Paine.