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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

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

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

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

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

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" 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 the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

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

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.