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

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

This series is set to be decided 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 completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, 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 played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.