The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
