🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played. A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position In Question Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series. Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played. A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position In Question Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average. But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.