England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, after the opener 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 a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests 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 determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
