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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

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

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

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

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.