The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "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 press 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 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 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 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
