Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".

The all-rounder made this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."

The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.

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

This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

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

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable 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."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.

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

A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.