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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.

Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.

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

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.