Skipper Stokes Is 'Exhausted' Yet Remains 'Fit to Bowl'

England's captain Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he did not bowl on the third day of a pivotal Ashes Test.

Stokes utilized a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side progressed to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a commanding lead of 356 runs at the venue.

The dynamic player had earlier battled for more than five hours at the wicket across two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

During his marathon 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by Mitchell Starc and experienced muscle cramps. He also needed a period off the field on Friday after hitting his head on the ground while trying to field the ball.

"He could be a bit tired and just require some time to himself right now," commented Patel.

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

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his chequered injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be nursing an issue draws considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' absence from the attack 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 aspirations of winning back the Ashes intact, England had conceded a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"My understanding 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 visiting side could have remained in the match by bowling out Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had faint chances at certain scorelines, only for the home team to pull away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

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

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

"I don't actually know. We all know he never performs at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, so he didn't bowl."

Past Instances and Current Strain

The most recent occasion Stokes curtailed his own bowling was on the final day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.

He afterwards was absent for the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder problem.

Stokes has a history of pushing his body past breaking point, 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 initial three matches of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is sealed on day four, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been decided in 10 days – the opening two matches were over in short periods respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia needed only eight playing days to win in England, has the victor of an Ashes series been decided this quickly.

A Formidable Challenge

If a first goal is to extend this match into a fifth day, England will also have to achieve the highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series ongoing.

"I still believe there's an chance for us," stated Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something extraordinary. I think it's high time we witnessed something special from us."

"Three games in, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."