Zak Crawley conceded England were “staring down the barrel” of an Ashes wipeout after another bruising day that underlined Australia’s superiority and left the tourists facing the prospect of arriving in Melbourne with their campaign in tatters.
England’s hopes of mounting a meaningful challenge in the five-Test series have unravelled across three dispiriting matches. A two-day collapse in Perth was followed by a heavy defeat under lights at the Gabba, and now only a fifth-day miracle at the Adelaide Oval would prevent them slipping 3-0 down and consigning the final two Tests to little more than damage limitation.
Crawley attempted to give England belief that a world-record chase of 435 might be possible, producing a resolute 85 that marked a sharp contrast to his usual high-risk approach. Gone was the trademark exuberance, replaced by an innings built on patience and restraint, as he sought to blunt Australia’s attack and bat time.
For a while, it worked. Crawley began with just one run from his first 28 balls and grew steadily into his task, offering a rare note of resistance in a series that has largely belonged to the hosts. But any lingering optimism was crushed by Nathan Lyon, who delivered a game-breaking spell that effectively ended the contest.
The off-spinner claimed three wickets for seven runs in 20 deliveries, clean bowling Harry Brook and Ben Stokes before having Crawley stumped by Alex Carey. At the close, England were clinging on at 207-6, still needing an improbable 228 runs, with Australia firmly in control.
Lyon’s intervention was emblematic of Australia’s dominance throughout the series. Across batting, pace bowling and catching, the hosts have consistently won the key contests, exposing England’s shortcomings in conditions that demand discipline and resilience.
“I like to keep it simple and I do just think they’ve been better than us,” Crawley admitted. “Obviously we’ve been slightly short of our best but credit has to go to them, they haven’t allowed us to be at our best. They are a top team in their own conditions and they’ve made it hard for us.
“It’s disappointing, we came here to win the Ashes and we’re staring down the barrel now. It was always going to be tough coming here against them: they were the favourites coming into it and they’ve proven why.”
Beyond the immediate disappointment, a broader reckoning looms for England. Two Tests remain at the MCG and SCG, likely to be played out in front of packed crowds with little at stake beyond pride. Longer term, questions will be asked of both personnel and policy, with careers on the line within the XI and among those shaping the team’s direction.
Crawley himself remains under scrutiny, his inconsistency at the top of the order placing him firmly among those fighting for a future role. Yet he insisted he felt no added pressure during his innings.
“If anything I felt really relaxed today and that’s why I played nicely,” he said. “I was just trying to play and take the scoreboard out of it. I felt quite calm. I was purposefully slower and I certainly didn’t change my technique.”
Ollie Pope’s struggles continued, the No 3 again unable to impose himself before being brilliantly caught by Marnus Labuschagne for 17. His average across 16 Ashes innings now stands at the same figure, and his place appears increasingly untenable. Crawley, though, offered a note of support.
“I feel like Popey gets a hard time and I’m trying to work out why,” he said. “In a lot of occasions where we need him to score runs he has done. He’s had a couple of quiet games but I think he’s an unbelievably good player who plays in a really hard role.”
