Steven Pope

Steven Charles Pope (born 15 November 1972) is a former South African cricketer. Pope was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break and occasionally played as a wicketkeeper. Pope was born at East London, Cape Province.

In a career that lasted 14 seasons, he represented Eastern Cape, Border, Border B, Warriors, Huntingdonshire, Cornwall, Eastern Province and Eastern Province B.[1]

Something of a journeyman within South Africa, Pope did play 9 List-A matches for Cornwall, where his family originate, and one for Huntingdonshire[2] in English county cricket. In his 14-year career, he forged a successful, if inconsistent first-class career. He played 93 first-class matches, where he scored 5,958 runs at a batting average of 32.91, with 27 half centuries and 12 centuries. His highest score in first-class cricket was 156*.[3] With the ball he took 48 wickets at a bowling average of 31.27, with 2 five wicket hauls and best figures of 7/62.[4] In List-A cricket, he played a total of 106 matches, where he scored 2,660 runs at an average of 31.29. In the process, he made 21 half centuries, but no centuries, with a high score of 98*.[2] He also took 29 wickets in List-A cricket, at a bowling average of 22.55 apiece, with best figures of 4/38.[5]

Toward the end of his career, Twenty20 cricket was introduced, with Pope playing 6 matches each in the format for Eastern Cape and later Warriors. In his 12 matches he scored 116 runs at an average of 12.88, with a high score of 34.[6]