Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

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

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

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

Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner'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 total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position In Question

While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.