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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

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

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

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

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

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

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.