🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat. This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat. This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.