England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "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 a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
