England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to this match, he said his players had held "raw" 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 messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus Australia.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
