England opening batter Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following 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 anything stated in the press with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a holiday to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he finished.
