The English opening batter Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with statements made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered this message in several conversations following England's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," said Stokes.
However, after Crawley scored 85 on the penultimate day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Prior to this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require four wickets on Sunday's last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
This series will be completed in just 11 days of play – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disheartening," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope appears under threat for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a half-century and boasts an average of just 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
But, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
