England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
