Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.