England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, 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 series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made 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 order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
