The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
