England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
