Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

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 Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.