🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge. "It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test." Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. But, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "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 is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge. "It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test." Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. But, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "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 is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.