The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
