🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test." Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435. This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader. But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test." Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435. This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62. Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.