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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

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

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

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

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.