Adelaide Strikers have signed Ollie Pope as their pre-draft overseas signing for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League this season. However, with the England Test team concluding their tour to New Zealand on December 18, Pope will miss the Strikers’ first match against Sydney Thunder on December 17.

However, currently the stand-in skipper for England in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka in the absence of Ben Stokes, Pope will play with Alex Carey, Chris Lynn, Matthew Short and D’Arcy Short at the Strikers as well. However, he has had a good T20 record for Surrey with an average of 33.25 across 50 games but he recently struggled in The Hundred, scoring only 35 runs in five games for the London Spirit, as his team finished at the bottom in the men’s competition.

“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,” said Pope. “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,” he continued.

However, Adelaide Strikers’ new head coach Tim Paine was happy to have signed Ollie Pope and he is looking forward to working with the right-handed batter.

“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 Tim Paine.