Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

However, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.

Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

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

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.