The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
However, after the opener made 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia 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 notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player 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.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
