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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.

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

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

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

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

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

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain 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," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

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

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

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

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