🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat. The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat. The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.