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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "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 some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said 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 Test."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia 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 occasions in the modern era.

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

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

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

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

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.