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

Stokes deployed five other bowlers as the Australian side progressed to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a commanding lead of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

The versatile all-rounder had previously spent over five hours at the wicket across two days to score 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.

A Demanding Knock

During his marathon 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was hit on the helmet by a fast bowler and suffered muscle cramps. He also needed a period off the field on the previous day after banging his head on the ground while trying to field the ball.

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

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

Past Fitness Concerns

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

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

At trailing 2-0 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%," remarked 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 visiting side could have remained in the contest by bowling out Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had faint chances at certain scorelines, only for the home team to accelerate away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

Even though England delivered 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.

"He abstained from bowling but that's probably a separate conversation with him," noted ex-New Zealand player Patel.

"I don't actually know. We all know he doesn't do anything at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, so he didn't bowl."

Past Instances and Current Strain

The last time Stokes limited his bowling was on the last 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 injury.

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

On the Brink of Defeat

England are on the verge of another loss in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the initial three matches of the series.

If the tourists' loss is sealed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been decided in just ten 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 Daunting Task Ahead

If a primary objective 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 alive.

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

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