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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said 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 will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.