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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."

Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.