England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
