The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view 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 to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
