England opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of comments made by skipper Stokes regarding the team environment not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in several interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where England are staring at defeat with a match to spare, the captain stated he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I have completed the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following Crawley scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. We take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," Crawley continued.
Frank Discussions and Steady Philosophy
The captain made the "weak men" observation after his side were beaten in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before this match, he revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had asked them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to remain in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach McCullum had stayed consistent with their prior three years in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do an extraordinary feat entering this game."
The Hosts On the Verge of Historic Series Victory
The opener's dismissal on day four was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional target of 435 runs.
Consequently, Australia need just four more wickets on the final day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage with three Tests.
Defeat would prolong England's drought in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in only eleven days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been decided so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the modern era.
"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be tough coming here to face them. They were the favourites and they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
Although Crawley's innings in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope appears under threat for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.
The Surrey batsman fell for 17 in the team's second innings on Saturday, adding to his poor record versus Australia.
In sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.
But, Crawley insisted any suggestion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise externally. There's no chat like that regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley finished.
