Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

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