England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 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 made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
