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

England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

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

However, after the opener scored 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. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.

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

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

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

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – 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 his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.