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

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "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 some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.

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

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

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

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

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

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.