England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians previously.
Ahead of 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" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell 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 so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
