Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

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

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.