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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. 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 Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.