The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made this message in several conversations in the wake of 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 with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
