The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
