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

The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.

However, following Crawley scored 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 press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.

The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.

Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.

Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this game."

Australia Close of Historic Series Victory

Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.

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

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

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.

"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."

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

"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

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

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

But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."

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

"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.