The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple conversations in the wake of England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" among the squad.
"I have completed all the talking in recent days that I required," remarked the England leader.
But, 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 press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "weak men" comment after England suffered a loss in the second Test to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their prior three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been very positive, unchanged," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
The Hosts Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, Australia need four wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – after England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been determined so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position In Question
Although the opener's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Ollie Pope appears under threat for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record against Australia.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played as many times in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener said any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope comes from "the media" – referring to the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
