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

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let 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 the England leader.

However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.

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

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.