Ollie Pope has advised his England team-mates to “put a helmet on next time” after some members of the squad had been pictured using e-scooters with out head safety – however insists the extreme media scrutiny is not going to drive the vacationers to remain indoors.
Forward of the day-night second Ashes Check in Brisbane from Thursday, captain Ben Stokes, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and injured bowler Mark Wooden had been snapped using electrical two-wheelers within the metropolis with out the obligatory security helmets.
Queensland legal guidelines permit for a superb of 166 {dollars} (round £82) for anybody discovered doing so.
Pope advised reporters on Tuesday: “Just put a helmet on next time. Rules are rules.”
Nevertheless, he added: “I mean if they want to catch us doing that then then so be it but it is important to have balance on a long tour like this.”
England had been thumped inside two days of the primary Ashes Check in Perth and had been promptly hammered by the native media, though that criticism began when the group landed in Australia with Stokes branded “cocky” and Joe Root “average”.
Pope added: “Within the days after the Check you are very conscious of (the eye). It was all over the place you went, when the fellows had been attempting to unwind and for us as cricketers and as individuals I believe it is vital to try to have the ability to swap off and be your self.
“Losing a game like we did, everyone’s gutted, but locking your doors and not coming out of your room is the unhealthy thing to do, as we saw in Covid times.
“No matter you are doing in your off time, whether or not it is simply taking your thoughts away from cricket for a day or two, I believe that is actually vital.”
Pope made scores of 46 and 33 within the first Ashes Check in Perth, which England misplaced inside two days
Pope: Australia not unbeatable in Brisbane
England will look to degree the five-Check collection by profitable the pink-ball recreation in Brisbane, in what will probably be their first day-night Check in practically three years.
Pope’s aspect have received two of their seven pink-ball video games, whereas Australia’s file is 13 victories from 14, though their sole defeat did come on the Gabba, in opposition to West Indies in January 2024.
The England batter mentioned: “There’s different ways you can skin a cat if you want to be successful.
“It is attempting to be sure you’re placing the bowler underneath some stress, however on the similar time, attempting to soak up it as a lot as you may when a bowler is in a superb rhythm.
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Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain talk about what key variations there will probably be with the pink ball
“We know Australia have a good record here, but at the same time, we saw West Indies went and turned them over last time, so we take that as a bit of a positive.
“They definitely have not been unbeatable right here.”
Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton added: “The discuss is the pink ball goes comfortable and there appears to be a much bigger distinction between the previous pink ball and the brand new pink ball than the brand new pink Kookaburra.
“They say it swings big when it is new and then goes soft. You also have the vagaries of when the lights come on in that twilight period. That’s when wickets tend to fall.”
Ashes collection in Australia 2025-26
All instances UK and Eire
- First Check (Perth – November 21-25): Australia beat England by eight wickets
- Second Check (day/night time): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third Check: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
- Fourth Check: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Floor
- Fifth Check: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Floor
