England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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 some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, the home team need four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
