The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding 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 versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after 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 anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
