Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

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

"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 Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia 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 daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

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

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.