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

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after Crawley made 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

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

But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.