'Stop fearing getting out in Test cricket' - Ollie Pope opens up on Brendon McCullum's advice that helped him do well against South Africa

Ollie Pope with Brendon McCullum (Image Source: Twitter)

England, a great Test nation, struggled to get a single win in the format before Brendon McCullum’s arrival for a significant period of time. However, once the Kiwi arrived at the camp, the entire atmosphere changed. The unit started playing with the new approach and so did Ollie Pope. 

Media, players from other nations, spectators and coaches started looking at the team’s new approach. The cricket fraternity named the approach “Bazball” and the term hit the headlines within a short span of time. 

Once Brendon McCullum took over as the Test coach of England, the skies cleared for the team. England defeated New Zealand 3-0 and then thumped India in the one-off Test. Since then, it has been an upward journey for the Three Lions and Ollie Pope. 

The classy batter recently played against South Africa and helped the team win the series. He was sent at number three and the decision reaped rewards as well.

“From a mindset point of view, I think it's more that I had some good chats with Baz (McCullum) actually, and he's been very much, 'stop fearing getting out in Test cricket.’ I think because Test cricket is so important to me I'd do anything to have a great career and play 100 Tests or whatever,” Ollie Pope said to the British media after the series win. 

He is often compared to Ian Bell and people feel that the youngster might fill the void for the team. Reasonably so, Ollie Pope has been coming with shots that give fans a glimpse of the England veteran.

“I think I was almost putting myself under too much pressure, and that fear of getting out was probably getting a bit too much,” Pope added further. 

I tried to get rid of that: Ollie Pope

The youngster further sprinkled hints on his thought process and provided a breakdown of his new approach.

“I tried to get rid of that and try and score my runs basically. Rather than think, 'if I cut this I might nick it, I (now) think 'if I cut it and I nick it then it might go over the slips for four. That is the mindset change I've tried to go by,” the Chelsea-born added. 

Ollie Pope hoped for the best and said that the team need to back him in the future as well.

“I've enjoyed that position this summer, it's been new, but hopefully I'll be backed to do it in the future as well,” he concluded.