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

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

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

Prior to this match, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

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

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

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

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.