The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
But, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
