🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "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 game." Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss. The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "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 game." Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss. The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.