England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "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 played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
