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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

However, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

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

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis 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 originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

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