England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, 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 some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his poor record against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
