Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

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

The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," 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 will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.