'Put a helmet on next time': Poms learn scooter lesson

Ollie Pope says England have learned their lesson after a handful of players were photographed riding e-scooters without helmets during their Ashes tour.

English captain Ben Stokes, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and injured paceman Mark Wood were pictured riding scooters around Brisbane in the lead-up to the second Test match that begins Thursday.

Queensland Government rules don't require helmets for those using human-powered scooters, but they must be worn when riding the motorised variety.

Section 256A(1) of Queensland's road rules state that e-scooter riders can face a fine of $166 for failing to wear a helmet without an exemption.

England's front-line players had made a top priority of bandying together in Brisbane after their first-Test loss rather than splitting off for some to play the day-night tour match in Canberra.

English batter Pope said it was important for the team to have downtime outside together in the days before the second Test.

"As cricketers and people it is important to try and switch off and be yourself," he said.

"For me, if we did lose a game the way we did everyone is gutted. Locking your doors and not coming out of your rooms is the unhealthy thing to do as we saw in COVID.

"Whatever you are doing in your off time, whether it is taking your mind away from cricket for a day or two, I think that is really important."

But the players will be smarter about road safety next time.

"Just put a helmet on next time I guess. Rules are rules, I guess. No other comment from me," Pope said.

Wood was on Tuesday ruled out of the second Test with a knee injury, having missed the entire county season following surgery on the same knee.

Batting allrounder Will Jacks, who bowls off-spin, will replace Wood in Brisbane.

After the pace cartel troubled Australia on day one of the Perth Test, Brydon Carse said England were well placed to handle Wood's absence.

"As a bowling group, we're quite settled in where we're going to bowl and what our role is in the side," he said.