🔗 Share this article Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men". The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, after the opener made 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 everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played. Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why." Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men". The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, after the opener made 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 everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played. Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why." Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.