England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
