Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

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

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

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

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good 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 amongst the players," he concluded.