England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
