The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
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 the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
