Zak Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

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

Stokes delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.

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

However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."

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

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.

Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."

The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.

Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.

Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.

A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.

The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.

A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.

However, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."

"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.