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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

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

However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "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 a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

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