The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
