England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
