England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to 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" among the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
