Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted 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 needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

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

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

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

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good 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."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.