Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

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

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one 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 poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

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