Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

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

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks 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 asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

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

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.