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

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

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

Before this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.