The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
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 alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, 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 as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate 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," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
