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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

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

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

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

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

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

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.