England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to 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 in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, following the opener made a knock of 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 anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope 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 six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
