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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

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

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.