🔗 Share this article Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played. Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss. This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. But, the opener said any suggestion Pope 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 good year to be frank." "He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played. Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss. This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively. The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. But, the opener said any suggestion Pope 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 good year to be frank." "He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.