England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in multiple conversations following England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
