England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
