Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.