England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, following the opener scored 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," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," 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 Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
