Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

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

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

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

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.