The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes made those words in multiple conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes series against Australia earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes noted he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes issued his "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The England squad subsequently went on a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, unchanged," noted the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left England six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to move to an unassailable three-nil lead after three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. Australia is a very, very good side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his immediate future in the England team, Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope was out for 17 runs in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a fifty and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There is no chat like that on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
