England 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".
The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
