England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "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 some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
