The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
