England opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked Stokes.
But, after the opener 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 a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in just eleven days of cricket – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are facing elimination at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second knock on day four, extending his poor record versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
