The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.
However, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
