Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

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

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

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

Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"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. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

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

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – 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 under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.