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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

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

The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

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

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.