Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

But, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

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

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.