The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "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 will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
