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

England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following England's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

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

This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

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

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.