Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

However, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.

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

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

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

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.