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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

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

But, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

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

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.