England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 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. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
