Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley made a knock of 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," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

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

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.