England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley scored 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 everything that is said in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
