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

The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

But, following Crawley scored a knock of 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. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and 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, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

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

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

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

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

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.

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

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.