The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate 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 everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
