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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

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

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

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

But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"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" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

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

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he finished.