England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here 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 like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
