England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 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 straight away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
