The English opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "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 press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only 11 days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
