The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.
A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination 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 Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
