Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

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

"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, 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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.

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

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

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

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

This means, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

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

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.