🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men". Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader. However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "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 press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches. Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge. "It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's 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 late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests. Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place In Question While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men". Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader. However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "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 press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches. Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge. "It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's 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 late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs. Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests. Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Place In Question While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia. In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.