The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
