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England's captain Ben Stokes is said to be "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to deliver overs, per assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he abstained from bowling on the day three of a pivotal Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their second innings, building a commanding lead 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 Demanding Knock

During his marathon 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was struck on the head by a fast bowler and experienced muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on the previous day after banging his head on the ground while trying to field the ball.

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

"From what I understand, he's quite ready to bowl. I think he's just really exhausted and he's expended a great deal out of himself to get through this point in the match."

Injury History Scrutiny

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

Always keen 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 2-0 down and requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn intact, England had conceded a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"My understanding 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 probably where he's at."

The visiting side could have remained in 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 home team to pull away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

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

"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 never performs at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a risk, 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 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 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.

Facing Imminent Loss

England are on the verge of another loss in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the initial three matches of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is completed 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 days of play to win in England, has the victor of an Ashes series been decided this quickly.

A Formidable Challenge

If a primary objective is to extend this match into a final 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 chance for us," stated Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something magical. I think it's about time we witnessed something magical from us."

"Three games in, we've thrown some but taken a lot. It's time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to throw some haymakers."