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

England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.

But, 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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

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

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted 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," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.