π Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries β including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself β left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket β with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Pope's Place In Question Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 β Dennis Amiss β has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" β referring to the journalists β "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries β including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself β left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket β with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Pope's Place In Question Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 β Dennis Amiss β has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" β referring to the journalists β "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.