England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in several conversations in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to his side suffered a loss in the second Test to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted 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."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, adding to his poor record against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
