The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
