🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes. However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test." Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike 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, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played. A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 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 returned a poorer average. But, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude". Stokes made this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes. However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind. The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches. Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test." Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. The spinner's triple strike 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, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played. A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each. The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now." "There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 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 returned a poorer average. But, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.