🔗 Share this article Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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 press with some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game." Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome 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. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks 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 Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader. However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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 press with some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game." Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome 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. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks 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 Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.