The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
However, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
