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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

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

However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth 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 everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

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

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.