England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians 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" among the playing group.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
