England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
