The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man 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 six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
