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

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

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

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

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

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

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.