England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain issued his "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
