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England's captain Ben Stokes is said to be "worn out" but still "fit and ready" to deliver overs, per assistant 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 moved to 271-4 in their second innings, building a commanding lead of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

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

A Grueling Innings

During his marathon 198-ball innings, the veteran cricketer was hit on the helmet by Mitchell Starc and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on the previous day after hitting his head on the turf while attempting a stop.

"He could be a bit tired and just require some 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 expended a great deal out of himself to reach this point in the match."

Injury History Scrutiny

Considering his complicated injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous 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' decision not to bowl on Friday was curious given it was England's final opportunity to stay 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 conceded a first-innings deficit of 85 runs.

"All I know is he goes 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 likely where he's at."

The tourists could have remained in the match by bowling out Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had faint chances at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the hosts to accelerate 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," 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."

Precedent and Pressure

The most recent occasion Stokes limited his 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 injury.

Stokes has a history of pushing his body past breaking point, 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 yet another defeat in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the initial three matches of the series.

If the tourists' loss is completed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been determined in 10 days – the opening two matches 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 victor of an Ashes series been decided this quickly.

A Daunting Task Ahead

If a primary objective is to extend this match into a final day, England will also have to pull off the highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.

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

"Three games in, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's time, now we're backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers."