Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

But, after Crawley scored 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. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.