England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley scored 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, he said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
