Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

A loss will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

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

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

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

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

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

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

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

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.