Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"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," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.

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

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

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

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.

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

However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.