Who is Michael Pepper? 5 interesting facts about England's new squad member for West Indies ODIs
Young flamboyant batter Michael Pepper has earned his maiden call-up to England’s ODI squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies. He will replace the injured Jos Buttler, who is still recuperating from a calf injury.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had earlier stated that Buttler would return to his captaincy duties for the West Indies tour, but a minor setback in his rehabilitation process has ruled him out.
Buttler is expected to join the squad before the T20I series. In his absence, Liam Livingstone will lead the team in the ODIs. Meanwhile, it will be a momentous opportunity for Pepper to don England's colours after consistent performances in domestic white-ball competitions.
The ODI series kicks off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on October 31, followed by the second game at the same venue on November 2. The third and final game will be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on November 6.
Pepper will be looking to make his opportunity count if he gets a chance in the playing XI.
Having said that, let us have a look at five interesting facts about England’s new squad member:
# 1. Pepper got his maiden opportunity for Essex's first XI in 2018
Michael Pepper signed a contract with Essex in 2018 after consistent performances for the second XI in the previous year. He is a wicketkeeper-batter with the ability to smash the bowlers to all corners of the ground.
Pepper went on to make his debut against Somerset at Chelmsford in June 2018 and could only muster 22 and 1 in the two innings. Pepper couldn't cement his place at the first-class level due to a lack of consistency and has only played 25 first-class matches to date.
# 2. Affinity towards white ball cricket
Despite scoring 92 in his fourth first-class game, Pepper built his reputation at the domestic level due to his white-ball exploits. He is a ruthless striker of the ball and made his presence felt early in his white-ball career.
Pepper was the leading run-getter for Essex in the 2021 T20 Blast and followed it up with another exceptional season the following year. He scored 439 runs at a staggering strike rate of 163.19. His consistent showing also earned him a spot in the Northern Superchargers squad for the Hundred.
# 3. A staggering record in the T20 Blast
Pepper has been a consistent member of the Essex side in T20 competitions and has an admirable record in the T20 Blast. He has so far played 63 matches in the tournament, scoring 1745 runs at an incredible strike rate of 159.79.
He had a sensational time with the bat in the 2024 Blast, scoring 535 runs at an average of 44.58 and a scarcely believable strike rate of 193.84. His 32 sixes were also the most hit by a batter in the edition. Pepper’s incredible T20 record in the domestic circuit should keep him in good stead to make his T20 debut for England in the near future.
# 4. A pretty ordinary time in the Hundred
Despite his heroics in the T20 Blast, he hasn't been able to replicate the performances in the Men’s Hundred. He played for the Northern Superchargers in 2022 and scored just 77 runs in five innings. He was roped in by the London Spirit ahead of the 2023 season.
Since then he has played a total of 11 games for them but has only mustered 96 runs at an average of 8.72. For someone who has been successful in the T20 format, Pepper will look to set his Hundred record straight in the upcoming seasons.
# 5. Pepper’s recent numbers are phenomenal
Till June 2024, Pepper hadn't scored a single century for Essex in any of the formats. An incredible 101 against Middlesex in a Blast game earlier this year opened his century count for Essex and since then there has been no looking back.
He orchestrated an important win against Sussex by scoring 120 off just 53 deliveries, studded with nine fours and as many sixes.
While his first-class record is nothing to boast about, he has shown signs of improvement recently. He scored impressive centuries against Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire, which could be a sign of better things to come.