The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted 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'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
