England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
