England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
