🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played. Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat. The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added. "It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place In Question Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played. Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat. The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added. "It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place In Question Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.