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

The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

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

The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

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

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

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