Batter accepts ‘uphill battle’ to keep Ashes series alive
Crawley backs Ollie Pope after dismissal for 17 in Adelaide
Zak Crawley has promised England will still be hunting for victory on the fifth day of the third Test in Adelaide, despite slipping to 207 for six in pursuit of a record fourth-innings run chase target of 435.
“It’s an uphill battle from here,” Crawley said at close of play on Saturday. “But the boys are going to give it a good crack tomorrow. Obviously we’re staring down the barrel, so it’s disappointing. But we’ll never give up.”
Crawley also had words of support for Ollie Pope, who was dismissed for 17 and now averages almost exactly that amount across 18 innings in Australia. Crawley, however, maintained that Pope has delivered when England needed him and was also playing well.
