England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 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.
But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – 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 several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
