🔗 Share this article

The team skipper Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to deliver overs, according to team coach Jeetan Patel, despite he did not bowl on the third day of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their second innings, establishing a commanding lead of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

The versatile all-rounder had previously battled for more than five hours at the wicket over two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Demanding Knock

Throughout his extended 198-ball innings, the 34-year-old was hit on the helmet by a fast bowler and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on the previous day after banging his head on the turf while trying to field the ball.

"He might be a bit tired and just need a bit of time to himself right now," stated Patel.

"Based on my knowledge, he's pretty fit to bowl. I think he's just really exhausted and he's taken a lot out of himself to reach this point in the game."

Injury History Scrutiny

Given his complicated injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be carrying a problem draws significant attention.

Eager to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was curious given it was England's final opportunity to remain alive in the Ashes series.

At 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn intact, England had given up a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"All I know is he operates at 100%," remarked Patel. "If he thinks he can't do it at 100%, I don't think he's going to do it. That's probably where he's at."

The tourists could have remained in the match by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, only for the hosts to accelerate away through Travis Head's not out 142.

Even though England bowled 66 overs, Stokes chose not to bowl.

"He didn't bowl but that's probably a separate conversation with him," said former New Zealand international Patel.

"I'm not entirely sure. We all know he never performs at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a risk, so he didn't bowl."

Past Instances and Current Strain

The last time Stokes curtailed his own bowling was on the last day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.

He afterwards missed the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder injury.

Stokes has a reputation of driving himself to its absolute limit, and it was put to Patel that the captain felt he might have endangered himself if he exerted himself any further in Adelaide.

On the Brink of Defeat

England are on the verge of yet another defeat in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the first three Tests of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is completed on day four, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been determined in 10 days – the first and second Tests were over in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia needed only eight days of play to win in England, has the winner of an Ashes series been determined so swiftly.

A Daunting Task Ahead

If a first goal is to prolong the game into a final day, England will also have to achieve the highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.

"I remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," said Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something magical. I think it's high time we saw something special from us."

"Three games in, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers."