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

England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment 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 series against Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.

But, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.

Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.

The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to 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 since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.

But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."

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