🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader. But, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss. The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added. "It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader. But, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss. The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added. "It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.