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

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

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

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

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

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."

Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

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

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.