England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, 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 the England leader.
But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 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 away Ashes series defeat.
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 the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
