England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
