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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

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

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

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.