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

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.

Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, after Crawley made a knock of 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. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory

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

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.

Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.

A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Ollie Pope's Position In Question

Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

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

Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

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