🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, the home team need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss. The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, the home team need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss. The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.