The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" 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 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. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
