England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley 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. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches 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 determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
