England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
