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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

However, following 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. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win 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 modern era.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

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

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.