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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

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

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

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

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "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 with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.