The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
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 triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
