The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to 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 to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
