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

The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.

But, following the opener scored 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 anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

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

Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.

"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.

This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

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

"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Place Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.

In 16 Ashes innings, Pope 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 Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.