🔗 Share this article Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this Test." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests. Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat. The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this Test." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests. Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat. The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.