England opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following England's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie 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 knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There's no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
