England opener Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".
Stokes delivered those words in several interviews in the wake of England's defeat in the second match of the Ashes versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat with a match to spare, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.
However, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "fragile individuals" observation subsequent to England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to a Queensland resort between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley asserted the messaging from the captain and head coach McCullum had remained consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," said Crawley. "It's just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat going into this game."
Australia Close of Historic Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The spinner's three wickets in a short spell – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting total of 435.
Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the last day to secure an insurmountable 3-0 lead after three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days respectively.
The last time 1921, when the Australians completed victory in England in eight days, has the outcome of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're facing elimination at this point."
"There remains plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. Australia is a formidable team. It was always going to be hard coming here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Place Under Scrutiny
While Crawley's performance in Adelaide probably answers doubts about his short-term place in the side, Pope appears under immense pressure for his spot in the Melbourne Test starting December 26th.
The Surrey batsman was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top six in the Ashes and recorded a poorer average.
However, the opener insisted any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised comes from "you guys" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know of his considerable talent," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley concluded.
