The English opener Crawley suggested he had no knowledge of statements made by skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "those lacking fortitude".
The all-rounder delivered those words in several conversations in the wake of his team's defeat in the second Ashes series against the Australians previously.
In the lead-up to the Adelaide Test, where the visitors are staring at defeat at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his message to "drift around" within the playing group.
"I've done the necessary discussions over the past two days that I required," said Stokes.
However, following Crawley made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he commented: "I didn't see that."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. We take everything that is said in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging
The captain made the "fragile individuals" comment after England were beaten in the second Test to fall two matches behind.
The England squad afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming matches.
Before this match, he said his team had held "raw" talks and he had urged them to "show a bit of dog" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, Crawley stated the messaging from the captain and coach Brendon McCullum had stayed consistent with their previous three years in charge.
"It's been very positive, unchanged," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory
Crawley's wicket late on Saturday was part of a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435.
This means, Australia need four wickets on the last day to secure an unassailable three-nil advantage after three matches played.
Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 Tests and condemn them to a fourth straight overseas Ashes loss.
The current battle is set to be decided in only eleven days of cricket – after England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when the Australians sealed a series win in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. The hosts have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."
"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it with that mindset," he continued.
"It's been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was inevitably tough touring here against them. They entered as the favourites coming in to it have demonstrated their quality."
Ollie Pope's Place In Question
While the opener's innings in the third Test likely secures questions about his immediate place in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope fell for 17 runs in the team's second innings on day four, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a fifty and averages just 17.62.
Only one other England player in over a century – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – meaning the journalists – "not inside the camp."
"The squad is fully aware how good of a player he is," added he. "Ollie has enjoyed a productive year to be frank."
"He has played some really good knocks. This is talk externally. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," Crawley finished.
