The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
