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

England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

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

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.

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

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Pope's Place In Question

While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."

"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.