Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

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

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.