Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia 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 sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

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

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

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

But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.