🔗 Share this article Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. But, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test." The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. This means, the home team require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month. Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. But, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership. "It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test." The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. This means, the home team require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively. Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added. "It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62. A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.