England opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes versus the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
But, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.
Consequently, the home team require four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three matches played.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is talk externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
