The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
