Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, 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 dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes 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 each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know 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. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.