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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "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 Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

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

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

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