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

England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

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

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.

However, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions 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 took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

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

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

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.