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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed 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.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.

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

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.