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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "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 like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.