Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions 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 missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

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

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"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 side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.