England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"It's been difficult. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion like that on Ollie in the camp," Crawley concluded.
