England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several interviews following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
