The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"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 some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches 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 first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
