🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before this match, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests. Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before this match, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests. Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.