Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.

But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

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

"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.

A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face 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 the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

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