Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among 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 the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, 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 after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.

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

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel 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 team. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.