The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
