🔗 Share this article Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests. Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played. A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men". Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad. "I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader. However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down. The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests. Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played. A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss. This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each. Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality." Pope's Position In Question While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia. Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.