England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second match of the Ashes versus 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 have completed all the talking over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay alive in the series.
Yet, Crawley stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said Crawley. "He has had a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
