The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough touring here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "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 if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
