England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts 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 facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
