🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind. The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added. "It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard 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 probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind. The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added. "It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard 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 probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.