The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score 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 recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
