The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, after the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
