England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
