The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
