England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, following the opener made 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said the opener. "It's on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting total of 435.
This means, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead after three matches played.
Defeat will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes series defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second knock on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
But, the opener said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
