🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. However, after the opener scored 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – 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 being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. However, after the opener scored 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Series Victory Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435. This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played. A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now." "There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – 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 being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.