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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

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

However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

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

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain 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," Crawley added.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

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

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

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