The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
