The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
But, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns versus 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 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
