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

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media 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 go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

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

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.