🔗 Share this article Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes. However, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why." Pope's Place In Question While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude". The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously. Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group. "I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes. However, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that." "I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added. Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down. The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches. Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle. Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge. "It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game." Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon. The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs. This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played. Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss. The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each. The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century. "This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point." "There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued. "It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why." Pope's Place In Question While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th. Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia. In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62. A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average. However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp." "We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest." "He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.