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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

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

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "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

Stokes made the "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

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

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

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets 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, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.