🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes. However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests. A loss will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes. However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests. A loss will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss. This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.