England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
