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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England 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 the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.