Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

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

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place 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 England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

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

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

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.