Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

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

But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

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

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

"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty 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.

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

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.