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

England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

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

Before this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's triple strike 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.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England 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 21st century.

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

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

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.