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jack crawley Accepted England Australia were in danger of being eliminated from the Ashes after failing to match a superior team.
England have fallen behind their biggest rivals during three disappointing Test matches and face the prospect of their campaign being in trouble as they head to Melbourne for the prestigious Boxing Day Test.
After a two-day blast in Perth there was heavy damage under the lights at the Gabba and only a miracle on the fifth day adelaide The Oval will prevent them from going 3-0 down and keep the one-sided series alive.
crowley The world record chase of 435 attempted to look achievable with a tough innings of 85, and brought out his trademark enthusiasm for an innings of studied resolve, but could not survive a game-breaking spell from Nathan Lyon.
The star spinner took three important wickets for seven runs in the space of 20 balls, clean bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes and had Crawley stumped by Alex Carey.
In the end, England were barely holding on at 207 for six, with 228 runs still needed.
Lyon’s contribution is the latest example of Australia showing its strength, having made gains in batting, fast bowling and catching over the past month.
A composed Crawley admitted: “I like to keep it simple and I think they have been better than us.
“Obviously we were a little below our best, but credit to them, they didn’t let us play our best. They are a top team in their conditions and they made it difficult for us. They are a very, very good team.
“It’s disappointing, we came here to win the Ashes and now we’re looking down. It was always going to be tough to come here against them: they were the favorites coming into it and they’ve proven why that is.”
A reckoning is coming for this team, who are looking at the prospect of two dead rubbers in front of packed houses in Melbourne and Sydney. In the long term, careers are at risk for both those in the XI and those making decisions at the top.
Crawley’s inconsistency and intermittent returns early in the innings have put him on the list of those who need to prove that they can be part of the next chapter. His determined effort here, which started with just one run from his first 28 balls, was a step in the right direction but he refused to feel the heat.
“If anything I felt really relaxed today and that’s why I played well,” he said.
“I was just trying to play and get the scoreboard out of it. I was feeling pretty cool. I was intentionally slow and I definitely didn’t change my technique.”
under fire Ollie Pope He was unable to give a better account of himself, being brilliantly caught by Marnus Labuschagne on 17. Strangely, this is also his average in 16 Ashes innings and he is sure to loosen up after losing all sense of authority at number three.
“I think Poppy is having a tough time and I’m trying to figure out why,” Crowley said.
“On a number of occasions where we’ve needed him to score, he’s done that. He’s had some quiet games but I think he’s an incredibly good player who plays a really tough role.”