Current best Under-25 XI in cricket

5. Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope is only 23 but has already given indications that he is definitely a player to watch out for, especially in the Test format of the game. Pope is a batsman who is proficient off either foot and does not get ruffled so easily. He is a player who is willing to bide his time out in the middle, and these are extremely positive signs for England cricket.

The 135* that he scored against South Africa in January 2020 is an example of how Pope can help his side out of troubled waters. The right-hander scored 18 fours and a six in that knock and shared a sensational 203-run partnership with Ben Stokes, and helped his side wallop the Proteas by an innings and 53 runs. He has played 19 Tests for England and has scored 882 runs at an average of 31.50.

Pope has all the makings of a great batsman and has a plethora of challenges that lie ahead. And surely, England has found a youngster on whom they can rely upon in the toughest and most demanding format of the game.