Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

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

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

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

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with 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 series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

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

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.