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

England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.

"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

But, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.

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

This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.

A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 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 triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.

"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position In Question

While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.

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

A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.