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The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "worn out" but still "physically able" to bowl, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, despite he did not bowl on the third day of a pivotal Ashes Test.

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

The dynamic player had previously spent over five hours at the crease across two days to score 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.

A Grueling Innings

Throughout his extended 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 turf while trying to field the ball.

"He could be a little fatigued and just require some time to himself right now," stated Patel.

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

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his complicated injury history – 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 attracts considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' absence from the attack on Friday was puzzling given it was England's last chance to stay in the Ashes series.

At trailing 2-0 and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive, England had given up a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"My understanding 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 match by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings 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.

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

"He abstained from bowling but that's perhaps a different discussion with him," said ex-New Zealand player Patel.

"I'm not entirely sure. We all know he never performs at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, so he didn't bowl."

Past Instances and Current Strain

The most recent occasion Stokes limited his bowling was on the final 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 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 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 initial three matches of the series.

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

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

A Daunting Task Ahead

If a first goal is to prolong the game into a fifth day, England will also have to pull off the greatest run-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 saw something special from us."

"After three matches, we've landed some blows but taken a lot. It's time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."