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

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, 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 media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment 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 in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

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

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.