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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

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

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

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

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

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're 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 formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.