The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"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 England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
