The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements from skipper Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "drift around" among the playing group.
"I have completed the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
However, after Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in the third Test, he commented: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the press with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain issued his "fragile individuals" observation after England suffered a loss in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The team subsequently went on a break to a Queensland resort in the gap between the second and third matches.
Before this match, he said his players had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the guidance from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we were capable of something special going into this game."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial triple-strike by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England 207-6 chasing a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia require four wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an unassailable 3-0 advantage after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight overseas Ashes series loss.
This series will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.
The last time 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in 11 days on two other occasions in the modern era.
"It's disheartening," admitted the batsman. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the favourites and have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures questions about his short-term future in the side, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a lower average.
But, the opener insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is talk from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he concluded.
