🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes. But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs. This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests. Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player 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, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes. But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs. This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests. Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player 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, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.