The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from captain Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following the opener made 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 everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
