🔗 Share this article Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes. But, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain 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. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes. But, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind. The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series. Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test." The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs. Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests. Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss. This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively. Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era. "It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain 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. "The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62. Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average. However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank." "He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.