Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

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

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley'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 – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

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

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

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

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

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

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.