The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by captain Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching 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 "weak men" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," said Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – left England six down for 207 chasing a notional total of 435.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia completed victory in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any notion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk from the outside. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
