The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
