England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
But, following Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
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 sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
