Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks
England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
