🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging The captain made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this game." The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435. This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position In Question While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging The captain made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this game." The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435. This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position In Question While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.