England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
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