The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second Ashes against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had let his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," remarked Stokes.
However, following Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out 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 after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to this match, Stokes said his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia require four wickets on the last day to move to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage after three Tests.
Defeat will extend England's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle is set to be decided in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "Our goal was to win 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.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They entered as the favourites and they've proven why."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate future in the side, Pope looks under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second knock on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley said any notion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.
