England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "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 Historic Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
