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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before this match, he revealed his team 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 Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

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

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes 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 of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.