The English opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several conversations following his team's loss in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, following the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in the second Test to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, he revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had remained in line with their previous tenure in charge.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, Australia need four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
A loss will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes loss.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's performance in the third Test likely secures doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, adding to his poor record against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top order in the Ashes and returned a lower average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware of his considerable talent," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is talk from the outside. There is no discussion of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," he concluded.
