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England's captain Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to bowl, per team coach Jeetan Patel, despite he abstained from bowling on the third day of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes utilized five other bowlers as Australia moved to 271-4 in their second innings, building a commanding lead of 356 runs at the venue.

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

A Demanding Knock

Throughout his marathon 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was hit on the helmet by Mitchell Starc and experienced muscle cramps. He also needed a period off the field on the previous day after banging his head on the ground while attempting a stop.

"He might be a little fatigued 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 get through this point in the game."

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his complicated injury history – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series – any indication the star all-rounder might be carrying a problem draws significant attention.

Eager 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 requiring a victory 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 goes 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 probably where he's at."

The visiting side could have remained in the contest by bowling out Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, only for the home team to accelerate away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

Although England delivered 66 overs, Stokes chose not to bowl.

"He didn't bowl but that's probably a different discussion with him," said ex-New Zealand player Patel.

"I'm not entirely sure. We all know he doesn't do anything at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, 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 subsequently was absent for the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder injury.

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 pushed himself any further in Adelaide.

Facing Imminent Loss

England stand on the edge of another loss in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the first three Tests of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is completed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been determined in just ten days – the opening two matches 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 Formidable Challenge

If a primary objective is to prolong the game into a final day, England will also have to pull off the highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.

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

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