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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in several conversations following England's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

But, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

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

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

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

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

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

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