The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
