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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

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

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

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

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

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was 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.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

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

But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.