Ollie Pope: Perception England 'weren't fussed' about Ashes was tough but criticism understandable

Ollie Pope has denied the England team 'weren't fussed' during the troubled Ashes series but understands why the players were criticised.

Ben Stokes' tourists crashed to a 4-1 series defeat by Australia that is currently being reviewed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with tour planning, preparation, individual performances and behaviour all under scrutiny.

Apart from being comprehensively outplayed on the field, concerns about the culture of the squad emerged during a break in Noosa, where there were reports of excessive drinking by players, followed by revelations over vice-captain Harry Brook's altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the pre-Ashes visit to New Zealand.

Pope, however, insists England's were intent on beating Australia and might have been more successful had they built on a competitive start to the first Test in Perth.