England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley made 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 everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
