🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played. A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played. A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.