England opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus 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 allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," 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 team subsequently went on a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
