Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

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

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "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 of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.