England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"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 made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
