The English opening batter Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from captain Ben Stokes about the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered this message 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 Adelaide Test, where England now face defeat with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" within the playing group.
"I've done all the talking over the past two days that I required," said the England leader.
However, after Crawley made 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "weak men" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" talks and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of something special entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
Crawley's dismissal late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Brook and Stokes himself – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting target of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
Defeat will extend England's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said the batsman. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a fifty and boasts an average of just 17.62.
Only one other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," he concluded.
