Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "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 some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

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

The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

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