Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

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

But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth 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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

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

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.