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

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes 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 Stokes.

However, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "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 media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.