🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "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," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon 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 lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435. This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests. A loss would prolong 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 just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group. "I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "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," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind. The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon 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 lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435. This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests. A loss would prolong 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 just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.