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

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

But, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

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

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

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

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

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

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope 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 played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, the opener said any notion his teammate 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 good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.