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

The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

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

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

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

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order 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," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.