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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

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

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

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

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

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

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

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.