England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from captain Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 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 now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
