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

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

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

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

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

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion 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," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.