England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "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 played some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
