Zak Crawley Unaware of Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments
England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.