Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

But, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test 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 this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests 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 Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

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

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.