The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.
However, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
