England opening batter Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "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 Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
