🔗 Share this article

The team skipper Ben Stokes is reportedly "worn out" but still "physically able" to bowl, per assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he abstained from bowling on the third day of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes utilized five other bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

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

A Demanding Knock

During his extended 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was hit on the helmet by a fast bowler and experienced bouts of cramp. He also needed a period off the field on the previous day after hitting 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.

"Based on my knowledge, he's quite ready to bowl. I think he's just really exhausted and he's taken a lot out of himself to reach this point in the match."

Injury History Scrutiny

Given his complicated injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be nursing an issue attracts 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 last chance to remain alive in the Ashes series.

At trailing 2-0 and requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their hopes of winning back the Ashes alive, England had conceded 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 tourists could have remained in the match by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second knock and had slim hopes at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the home team to accelerate away through Travis Head's not out 142.

Although England delivered 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.

"He didn't bowl but that's probably a separate conversation with him," noted former New Zealand international Patel.

"I'm not entirely sure. 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 last day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.

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

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 pushed himself any further in Adelaide.

Facing Imminent Loss

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

If the visitors' defeat is sealed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been determined in just ten days – the first and second Tests were over in two and four days respectively.

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

A Formidable Challenge

If a primary objective 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 still believe there's an chance for us," said Patel. "It will be difficult, we're going to need something extraordinary. I think it's about time we witnessed something special from us."

"After three matches, we've landed some blows but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're backed into a corner, to fight back fiercely."