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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

But, following the opener scored 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 everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

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

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," 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," he continued.

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

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know 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 noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.