The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
