🔗 Share this article Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played. A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat. The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously. In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group. "I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader. However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued. Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests. Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle. Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership. "The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game." Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played. A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat. The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era. "This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added. "The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy. In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62. Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average. But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank." "He has played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.