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

The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.

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

But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.