đŸ”— Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes. But, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435. Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss. This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against 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 in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes. But, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435. Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss. This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against 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 in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank." "He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.