Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks
The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley made 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 everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
