The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
