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

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia 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 playing group.

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

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

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

The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions 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 fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.