Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.

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

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

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

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