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

England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, following Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

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

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

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