Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Remarks

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

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

Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

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

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures 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 was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

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

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

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.