Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.

But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.

Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 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 plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.