Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Frail Characters' Remarks
The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win 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.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.