Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

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

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

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," 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 Test."

Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and 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, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 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 returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.