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 this message in multiple conversations following his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
This means, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
