The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort 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 stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
