England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth 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 press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
