🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership. "It's been very positive, unchanged," noted 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 going into this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader. But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership. "It's been very positive, unchanged," noted 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 going into this game." The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435. This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average. But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.