The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "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 some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three matches played.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
