The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, 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.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
