Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

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

Stokes made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss 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 required," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

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

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.

This means, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.