Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat 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 in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

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

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.