Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"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.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

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

Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.

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

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

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

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

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

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.