The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
