🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played. Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played. Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.