The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
