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

England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.