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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

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

Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

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

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

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

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.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.