Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, after 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 press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.