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

England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.