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

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

The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following the opener made 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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

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

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.