Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

But, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

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

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

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

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.