England opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his sentiment to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, after the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
