🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place In Question While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place In Question While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.