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

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

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

In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

But, after the opener scored 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

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

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

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

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

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

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests 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 urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

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

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.