England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
But, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
