🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth 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 anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests. Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era. "It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth 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 anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests. Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era. "It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.