Zak Crawley on England's uphill battle in the third Ashes Test at Adelaide
In the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, England found themselves 207-6 while chasing a formidable target of 435 runs. Zak Crawley acknowledged the challenging situation, describing it as an uphill battle, but expressed England's determination to strive for a win on day five.
Crawley played a careful innings of 85 runs, focusing on watching the ball closely and maintaining his technique despite previous low scores. His approach was more restrained than usual, aiming to build a solid foundation for the team.
England's batting difficulties were attributed largely to Australia's high-quality bowling attack, particularly the impact of Boland, as well as Australia's stern field settings which made scoring difficult. Crawley noted that England were not at their best in such conditions.
Regarding team dynamics, Crawley dismissed talk about "weak men" in the dressing room and stated that there had been no change in England's messaging throughout the series. He also backed Joe Root as a key No 3 batsman who has delivered under pressure, despite Pope being dismissed for 17 in this innings.
The Ashes series continues with 11 days of active play remaining before Christmas, as England seek to overcome the strong Australian side.
