🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, following the opener scored a knock of 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Pope's Place In Question While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, following the opener scored a knock of 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435. Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests. A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat. This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Pope's Place In Question While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.