The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
