Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.

However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, he said his players 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 stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed 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 lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

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

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

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