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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.