The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
