England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
