The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good 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 England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
