England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes about the dressing room not being "weak men".
Stokes made this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, after Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
