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

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

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

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

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

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

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.