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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

But, after Crawley scored a knock of 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 everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.

This means, the home team need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

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

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome 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," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.