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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

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

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain 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 Stokes.

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

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

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 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 poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.