Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

This means, the home team require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.

Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win 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 disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.