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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.