Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments
England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within 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 made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
