England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by captain Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured 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 originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
