The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
