'Unfortunately, it's just English culture towards sport' - Ben Stokes opens up on recent criticism of Ollie Pope

England's Test skipper, Ben Stokes, has opened up about the unwarranted criticism against the stand-in captain, Ollie Pope. Stokes believes that this criticism is a broader issue within English sports culture, where there's always a need for someone to be on the firing line.

With Stokes sidelined due to a torn left hamstring, Pope was given the responsibility to lead England's Test team for the ongoing Sri Lanka series. Despite leading the team to comprehensive victories in the first two Tests, Pope has faced harsh criticism, particularly regarding his batting performance. His average of 7.50 from four innings has drawn scrutiny, with former England Captain Michael Vaughan labelling Pope as an insecure human being. Stokes, who has been with the team throughout the series, expressed his disappointment with the criticism at Pope. 

"Unfortunately, it's just English culture towards sport. There's always got to be someone in the firing line and obviously, when you're captain you are more exposed to that," Stokes told ESPNcricinfo.

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He's won two games out of two in charge: Ben Stokes 

The Test captain praised Pope's leadership, emphasizing his success in winning two out of two games. Ben Stokes feels that the criticism his teammate is facing as he is an easy target in his absence. Meanwhile, the all-rounder is impressed by the way Pope has led the team so far. He said that he guided him but encouraged him to give his flair while leading the side.

"He's won two games out of two in charge. At the end of the day, I think that's the thing that he's concentrated on the most. He wants to be scoring runs and leading from the front. He's openly admitted that. People are very quick to jump on anything, to someone who's in the firing line and obviously Pope coming in and being captain whilst I'm injured, you can say he's the easy target there," he continued.

"But I think he's done fantastically well in leading the team. He's done it his own way, which is something I encouraged him to do, to keep driving the team forward in the way that I've been trying to do, but make sure that you put your own personal touches to it," the Christchurch-born further added.

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Besides, Stokes also highlighted Pope's recent batting form before the Sri Lanka series and spoke about his consistent performances against West Indies. He pointed out his consistent runscoring in recent times barring one game where he failed to get going. Hence it was unfair to scrutinize Pope for his current form with the bat for England.

"I think he's tactically he's done very well. Let's not forget before that first Test against Sri Lanka, he'd come off the back of fifty, fifty and a hundred (57, 121 and 51 in consecutive innings against West Indies). And then he doesn't have one good game and everyone's saying he is out of form. It's like 'short memories people, come on!" Stokes concluded.