The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, after Crawley 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 anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
