🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test." The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played. A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test." The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played. A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he finished.