The English opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "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 media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a holiday to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth 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, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
