Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

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

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.