The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in multiple interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener scored 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. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
