Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.