The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "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 press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed 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 staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
