The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
