Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

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

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware 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. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.