🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes. However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes. However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.