🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes. But, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind. The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership. "It's 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 something special entering this Test." The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK 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 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Place In Question While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes. But, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind. The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership. "It's 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 something special entering this Test." The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK 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 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Place In Question While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.