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

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

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

Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

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

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

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

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

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

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.