The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
