England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"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 Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
