The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"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," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
