Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "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 On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

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

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

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

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.