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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

However, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "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 a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

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

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."

Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

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

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.