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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth 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 everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.

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

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.