Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

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

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.