England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments made by skipper Stokes about the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made this message in multiple conversations in the wake of his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his sentiment to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, after the opener made 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation subsequent to his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a holiday to a Queensland resort between the second and third Tests.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard touring here against them. They entered as the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "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 of that nature on Ollie in the camp," Crawley finished.
