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

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

Stokes made this message in several interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.