🔗 Share this article Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions 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 stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, 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 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men". The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month. In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad. "I've done the necessary discussions 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 stated: "I missed those remarks." "I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued. Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down. The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge. "The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test." Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435. Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests. A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss. This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each. Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued. "The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why." Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day. The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy. Across sixteen Ashes knocks, 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 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp." "The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest." "He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.