Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

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

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to 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 "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," 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."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be 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 always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

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