England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
