The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
