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

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.