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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations 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 a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

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

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

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

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.