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".
Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
