The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain 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 tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
