Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

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

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "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 definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

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

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary 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 insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.