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

The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

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

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

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

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.