Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

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

But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

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

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.