Ben Stokes Defends Ollie Pope Amid Criticism, Slams English Sport Culture

Ben Stokes, England's Test captain, has expressed his disappointment with the "culture" of English sport, which he believes has led to excessive criticism of stand-in captain Ollie Pope. Pope has taken over the captaincy in Stokes' absence due to a hamstring injury and has led England to two comprehensive victories in the ongoing Sri Lanka series. However, his batting has suffered, leading to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Stokes defended Pope, stating that he has done "fantastically well" in leading the team and that his batting struggles are due to the added responsibility of captaincy. He also criticized the media for being too quick to criticize Pope, saying that it is "just English culture towards sport."

Stokes has a history of defending his teammates and believes that athletes should support each other. He also spoke about his interest in business and his belief in the power of teamwork, which he sees as a key factor in his success on and off the field.

Tags: #BenStokes, #OlliePope, #EnglandCricket, #TestCricket, #Captaincy