🔗 Share this article

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

Stokes deployed five other bowlers as Australia progressed to 271-4 in their second innings, establishing a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the venue.

The dynamic player had previously spent over five hours at the wicket across two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

Throughout his extended 198-ball innings, the veteran cricketer was struck on the head by Mitchell Starc and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on Friday after hitting his head on the ground while attempting a stop.

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

"From what I understand, he's pretty fit to bowl. I think he's just pretty knackered and he's taken a lot out of himself to get through this point in the game."

Injury History Scrutiny

Given his complicated injury history – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's previous four series – any indication the star all-rounder might be nursing an issue draws considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the heat of battle, Stokes' absence from the attack on Friday was puzzling given it was England's final opportunity to stay in the Ashes series.

At 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of winning back the Ashes alive, England had given up a first-innings deficit of 85 runs.

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

The tourists could have stayed within the contest by bowling out Australia for around 240 in their second innings and had slim hopes at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the hosts to pull away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

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

"He didn't bowl but that's perhaps a separate conversation with him," noted ex-New Zealand player Patel.

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

Precedent and Pressure

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

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

Stokes has a history of pushing his body past breaking point, and it was suggested 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 outcome of the Ashes has been determined in 10 days – the first and second Tests were over in short periods respectively.

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

A Daunting Task Ahead

If a first goal is to prolong the game into a fifth day, England will also have to achieve the greatest run-chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series ongoing.

"I remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," said Patel. "It will be difficult, we're going to need something extraordinary. I think it's about time we saw something magical from us."

"After three matches, we've thrown some but taken a lot. It's time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."