Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth 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

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he 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, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

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

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

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

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.