Ollie Pope: 'Brutal changes' at the top are taking England forward
Pope says new Test captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have made a big difference
Ollie Pope believes the "brutal changes" made at the top of the England Test team are taking the side forward.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been a key part of England's resurgence under new captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, and he says the pair have made a big difference.
"There have been some brutal changes at the top, but it's been really refreshing," said Pope.
"Stokesy and Baz [McCullum] have come in and said, 'This is how we're going to play, this is what we're going to do', and they've backed us to go out and do it.
"It's been a really positive change and I think it's taken the pressure off the players. We've been able to go out and play with freedom, and that's when we're at our best.
Pope's comments come after England's victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's. It was England's first Test win since Stokes and McCullum took charge, and it was a performance that Pope believes was a sign of things to come.
"That was a great win for us," said Pope.
"It was a tough game, but we showed a lot of character and fight to come through it.
"It's a really exciting time to be involved with England. We've got a lot of young players coming through, and we're playing a brand of cricket that's really exciting to watch.
"I think we can achieve great things under Stokesy and Baz, and I'm really looking forward to the future."
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