The English opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of statements made by captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment as no place for "weak men".
The all-rounder made this message in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
However, following Crawley made 85 on the penultimate 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 press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" comment subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team subsequently took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior tenure in leadership.
"It's been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in a short spell – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. 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 Place In Question
Although Crawley's innings in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns against Australia.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of 17.62.
A solitary other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener said any notion Pope is under the microscope comes from "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There is no chat of that nature regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
