Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

But, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

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

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

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 appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.