Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made this message in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"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 some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.