Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Remarks

The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.

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 message to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory 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 occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

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

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.