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

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate 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 some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

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

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

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

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

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener said 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. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.