Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

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

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.