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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after the opener made a knock of 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. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

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 played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.