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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching 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 "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.

Before this match, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place 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 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.

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

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

But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

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