🔗 Share this article Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent 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 wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership. "It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test." Australia Close of Historic Series Victory Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests. Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century 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 returned a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team." "We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men". The all-rounder made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent 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 wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership. "It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test." Australia Close of Historic Series Victory Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests. Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century 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 returned a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team." "We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.