Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

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

A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed 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 with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman 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 fifty and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.