England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
But, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
