Ollie Pope on moment he met "legend of the game” James Anderson

England Test vice-captain, Ollie Pope, spoke very highly about James Anderson ahead of his 188th and final Test at Lord's against West Indies

Ahead of James Anderson's 188th and final Test match at Lord’s next week, Ollie Pope admitted he was "nervous" to meet him ahead of his debut. 

Pope, who is now vice-captain of the Test side, was just five years old when Anderson made his Test debut at Lord's against Zimbabwe.

Speaking to the PCA's Under The Lid Podcast, in association with The Cricketer, Pope said: "I remember when I first came into the test side he was probably the one guy I was pretty nervous to meet.

"I remember my debut at Lord's against India, I was in the slips thinking Jimmy's running into bowl here and I'm in the slips and I'm some 19 or 20-year-old who has played a few games. If I drop it here... that was my first thought and the second thought was how cool is this."

Related: Rob Key confirms how James Anderson retirement decision was reached

^{Ollie Pope at the crease for England (Getty Images)}

Pope made his Test debut as a 20-year-old in 2018 against India, England won the match thanks largely to match figures of 9 for 43 from Anderson. 

England's No.3 also paid tribute to the retiring seamer, referring to him as a "legend of the game".

Pope added: "I'm buzzing for the week, and I'm sure he is as well, it's exactly what he deserves.

"Hopefully it's [the pitch] not too green, but he deserves this week to be about him. 

"He'll be emotional but he's going to love every minute of it, I'm sure."

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