England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes made this message in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
