Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let 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," said Stokes.

However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

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

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

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

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.