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

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face 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 needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

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

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

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

A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – 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 if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.