The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder made those words in several conversations following England's defeat in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, after the opener made a knock of 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 media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" comment after England were beaten in Brisbane to fall 2-0 down.
The team afterwards took a break to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain alive in the Ashes battle.
Yet, Crawley asserted the guidance from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed in line with their previous three years in leadership.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," said the opener. "The focus is on maintaining positivity, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Series Victory
The opener's wicket on day four was part of a decisive three-wicket burst by Australian off-spinner Lyon.
Lyon's triple strike in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead with three Tests.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the first two Tests in rapid time respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been difficult. They're a very, very good team. It was inevitably hard touring here to face them. They entered as the front-runners and they've proven why."
Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 in the team's second innings on day four, adding to his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is under the microscope comes from "the media" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has produced several excellent innings. It is noise from the outside. There's no chat of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he finished.
