England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
