The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes made this message in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth 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," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior 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. We believed we could do something special going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here 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 like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
