England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
