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

The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

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

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.