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

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

But, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

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

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

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

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.