Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

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

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.