England opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "weak men".
Stokes delivered this message in multiple interviews in the wake of England's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia earlier this month.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where the visitors now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had let his message to "drift around" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.
But, following Crawley scored 85 on the fourth 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
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England suffered a loss in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.
Prior to the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his players had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their effort to stay alive in the Ashes battle.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the guidance from the captain and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. It felt like we could do something special going into this Test."
The Hosts Close of Historic Ashes Triumph
The opener's dismissal late on Saturday came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant England six down for 207 chasing a daunting total of 435.
This means, Australia require just four more wickets on Sunday's last day to move to an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played.
A loss will extend England's drought in Australia to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive overseas Ashes defeat.
This series is set to be decided in just 11 days of play – with England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the urn been decided so quickly. Australia have also triumphed in 11 days on two other occasions in the 21st century.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and we're facing elimination now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we'll certainly approach it like that," he continued.
"It's been tough. They're a formidable team. It was always going to be hard touring here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."
Ollie Pope's Position In Question
While the opener's innings in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate future in the side, Ollie 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 day four, extending his poor record versus the old enemy.
Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has failed to score a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top order in Ashes Tests and recorded a lower average.
However, Crawley insisted any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "you guys" – meaning the press – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year to be frank."
"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature on Ollie amongst the players," he concluded.
