Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.