England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before this match, he revealed 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 asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"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 very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"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. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
