🔗 Share this article Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435. Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests. A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad. "I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes. But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind. The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests. Before this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435. Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests. A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century. "It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62. A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average. However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team." "We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.