The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in several interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
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 a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on the last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
This series will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns 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.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said he. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
