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

The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series against the Australians 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 squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

But, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.

This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

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

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

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

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

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

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.