Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

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

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

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

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

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

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