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

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

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

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

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

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

This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

But, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.