Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

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

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

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

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.