England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
