The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said 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.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
