Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

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

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

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

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

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

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.