Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks

England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

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

However, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

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

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

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.