🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, after Crawley made 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge. "It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests. A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat. This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, after Crawley made 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge. "It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests. A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat. This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position In Question While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.