Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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 some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

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

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was 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 with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

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

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

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