England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener made 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. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made 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 Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware 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 from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
