England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in several conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
