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The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "worn out" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, per assistant coach Jeetan Patel, despite he abstained from bowling on the third day of a pivotal Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as Australia moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

The versatile all-rounder had previously spent over five hours at the crease over two days to compile 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

During his extended 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old 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 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 pretty knackered and he's taken a lot out of himself to reach this point in the game."

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his chequered injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the star all-rounder might be nursing an issue attracts considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the thick of the action, 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 requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn intact, England had conceded a first-innings deficit of 85 runs.

"My understanding is he goes 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 stayed within the match by dismissing Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had slim hopes at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the home team to pull away through Travis Head's not out 142.

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

"He didn't bowl but that's probably a different discussion 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."

Precedent and Pressure

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

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

Stokes has a history of driving himself past breaking point, and it was suggested 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 yet another defeat in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the first three Tests of the series.

If the tourists' loss is completed on day four, 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 determined so swiftly.

A Daunting Task Ahead

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

"I remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," said 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."

"After three matches, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to throw some haymakers."