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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

However, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"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," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

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