Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

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

But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, 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 Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.