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

England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.

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

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

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

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.