🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test." Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played. A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test." Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played. A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.