The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed 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 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
