🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, following the opener 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 everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat. The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62. A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, following the opener 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 everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat. The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62. A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.