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

England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.

However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

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

Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.

"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph

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

The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.

Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.

A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.

This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.

"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."

"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.

Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.

A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.

But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

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