The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third 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 needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
