Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

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

Stokes made those words in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

But, after the opener made 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 press with a pinch of salt," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.

The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here against 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 Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.

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

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.