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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.

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

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.