Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

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

But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.

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

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive 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 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

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

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.