The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made this message in several conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon'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 total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
