The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
