England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "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'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
