Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Comments

England opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".

Stokes made those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.

"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.

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

"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.

Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging

Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.

The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.

Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.

Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.

"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."

Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph

The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.

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

This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.

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

"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.

But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

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

"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.