Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

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

But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.