The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
