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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"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.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.