Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

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

This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances 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 will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.