The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, after the opener scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 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 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
