‘all We Wanted To Do Was Go And Win The Ashes’: Ollie Pope Hits Out At England Critics

Ollie Pope has challenged nan cognition England “weren’t fussed” during their troubled Ashes circuit but accepts why it formed.

Ben Stokes’ visitors collapsed to a 4-1 bid conclusion by Australia that is being reviewed by nan England and Wales Cricket Board, pinch circuit planning, preparation, individual performances and behaviour each nether scrutiny.

Apart from being comprehensively outplayed connected nan field, concerns astir nan civilization of nan squad emerged during a break successful Noosa, wherever location were reports of excessive drinking by players, followed by revelations complete vice-captain Harry Brook’s altercation pinch a nightclub bouncer connected nan pre-Ashes sojourn to New Zealand.

Pope, however, insists England’s were intent connected beating Australia and mightiness person been much successful had they built connected a competitory commencement to nan first Test successful Perth. “Going into that series, location was a batch spoken astir nan mentation of it. As a team, nan misconception mightiness beryllium that we weren’t arsenic fussed arsenic it came across,” nan 28-year-old said astatine Surrey’s pre-season media day.

“The reliable point for everyone successful that first crippled was nan quality of it. Had we won that, and we’d done somewhat amended connected time two, nan thought is different. Of people we want to beryllium a well-liked team, connected and disconnected nan pitch, and unluckily our capacity didn’t let that to hap successful Australia.

“I tin understand why group felt that way, but astatine nan aforesaid clip nan cognition that we weren’t fussed was astir apt nan difficult thing. All we wanted to do was spell and triumph nan Ashes. As individuals, everyone’s trying to negociate pinch nan pressures of an Ashes bid and trying to get nan champion retired of their capacity and doing what they can.

“All anyone wanted to do was to win. And for america astatine times it was conscionable trying to, successful our minds, return nan unit disconnected nan existent Test match.”

Among nan criticisms made of England was inadequate mentation for an Ashes that consisted of a three-day lucifer against England Lions astatine Lilac Hill successful Perth. “As we’ve done complete nan erstwhile years, we tried to dainty it for illustration a normal bid to get nan champion retired of ourselves. Unfortunately, it didn’t rather spell to plan,” Pope said. “It wasn’t perfect batting astatine Lilac Hill because past we spell and play successful Perth and it’s nan other benignant of conditions. But that’s nan cards you’re dealt.

“And we did person experiences complete erstwhile years wherever that benignant of mentation has worked for america successful places for illustration New Zealand, Pakistan and India. I cognize what I request to beryllium arsenic fresh arsenic I tin be. From a individual point, I felt arsenic fresh arsenic I could person been for that first Test.”

Pope was dropped aft the 3rd Test aft averaging only 20.83 crossed nan first 3 games but will conflict to regain his England place, declaring: “I still consciousness for illustration my champion batting years are to come.”

The Surrey batsman was speaking aft nan ECB reversed plans to extremity its Ashes players speaking to nan media earlier nan caller region play while it conducts its review.