Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

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

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

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.