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

The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Before this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.

This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

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

"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.