England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"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.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
