England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
