England opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes against Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, 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.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," noted Crawley. "It's on maintaining positivity, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
While Crawley's performance in the third Test likely secures questions about his short-term place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top order in the Ashes and returned a poorer average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion like that on Ollie amongst the players," Crawley finished.
