Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

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

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

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

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

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley'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 – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

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

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.