Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

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

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

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

Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country 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 losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

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

But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.