The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several conversations following England's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers questions about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
