🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes. But, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss. This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "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 good year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes. But, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss. This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "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 good year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.