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

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

Stokes made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

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

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 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 recorded a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.