England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed 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. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination 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. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
