Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently 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 team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's drought 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 – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

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

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.