Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made those words in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

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

However, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, 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 media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.

This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory 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 instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

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

"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

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

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.