Lloyd Pope - Australia's 'next Shane Warne' - opens old wounds as England crash out of Under-19 World Cup

In a display reminiscent of Shane Warne in his pomp, 18-year-old Australian leg-spinner Lloyd Pope decimated England’s Under-19 side, knocking them out of the World Cup in the unlikeliest of fashions.

England looked to be on course for a comfortable quarter-final win having reduced their opponents in Queenstown to 127 all out and cruising at 47 without loss in reply.

But Pope entered the attack to take the first five wickets of the innings in just 32 balls, returning for a second 15-ball spell in which he bamboozled England’s tail order for three further wickets.

His figures of eight for 35 off 9.4 overs led to inevitable comparisons to Warne, who tweeted his congratulations and revealed he had bowled with the youngster two years ago, hailing him as “a real talent”.

Warne wrote: “This is terrific and brings a huge smile to myself. I had the pleasure of meeting this impressive young man in Adelaide a while ago. Was nice to bowl with him too — Lloyd give it a rip — well done and congrats! Spin to win my friend.”

It brought an abrupt end to England’s hopes of winning the tournament, with Australia lined up to face either Afghanistan or hosts New Zealand in the last four.

“You always have to have belief to win the game,” said Pope after his one-man performance. “All the boys have worked so hard for this and we never gave up — that’s the true spirit of all the boys. I always love playing for my country and to take some wickets was really awesome.”

The red-haired Pope, who understandably boasts Warne as his idol, got into England’s heads from the outset of his spell. First, England opener Liam Banks was stumped by Baxter Holt, and then captain Harry Brook was bowled by a googly, leaving Pope on a hat-trick.

Although he failed to get his three in three, he did not have to wait long until Will Jacks was out for a solitary run.

England still looked in the ascendancy with Tom Banton having scored 58 runs off 53 balls but his departure — caught at slip — further panicked England for whom the wickets then fell steadily. England lost their final six wickets for just 25 runs.