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

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

However, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

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

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

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – 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 to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.