Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

The English opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

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

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, after the opener made 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. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.