England Players Urged to Maintain Balance Amid Intense Media Scrutiny During Ashes Tour
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – England batter Ollie Pope has encouraged his teammates to prioritize downtime and maintain a healthy balance during their demanding Ashes tour of Australia, following increased media attention on their activities away from the cricket pitch. The call comes after the team faced scrutiny – including criticism from former Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson who labelled them “arrogant” – following a defeat in the first Test, and as they prepare for the second match in the series.
The England squad has been subject to persistent observation, with reports of drones following them during leisure activities like golf and photographs surfacing of players visiting a Perth aquarium. Pope emphasized the importance of switching off from cricket, stating, “For us as cricketers and as people it’s crucial to try and be able to switch off and be yourself.” He drew a contrast to the strict COVID-19 restrictions of his previous tour in 2019, adding, “Locking your doors and not coming out of your room is the unhealthy thing to do, as we saw in Covid times.”
Currently 1-0 down in the five-match series, England are planning a break in noosa, north of Brisbane, after the second Test, regardless of the outcome. Pope acknowledged the team is “very aware” of the media focus but believes they shoudl not be penalized for enjoying their time off. “Whatever you’re doing in your off time, whether it’s just taking your mind away from cricket for a day or two, that’s really important,” he said. “If they want to catch us doing that, then so be it. It is important to have that balance on a long tour like this.”
England has announced their team for the second Test, with all-rounder Will Jacks replacing the injured Mark wood. this latest episode adds to a growing body of local media coverage surrounding the England team’s tour of Australia.
