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

England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.

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

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, following Crawley made a knock of 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," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

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

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

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

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.