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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

But, after 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

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

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

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

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

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.

Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

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

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