England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
