England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, 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 some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"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 plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
