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

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.

Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said 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 good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.