Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

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

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket 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 the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.

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

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

But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.