Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.