Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Comments

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

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

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

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

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.