Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."

Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

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

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

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.