The English opener Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage with three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk externally. There's no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
