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

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side progressed to 271-4 in their second innings, establishing 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 Demanding Knock

Throughout his marathon 198-ball innings, the veteran cricketer was struck on the head by Mitchell Starc and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on Friday 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," stated Patel.

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

Injury History Scrutiny

Considering his chequered injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be carrying a problem attracts considerable scrutiny.

Eager to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' absence from the attack on Friday was curious 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 intact, England had conceded a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"My understanding 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 stayed within 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 bowled 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.

"He abstained from bowling but that's probably a separate conversation with him," said former New Zealand international 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 last time Stokes limited his bowling was on the last 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 injury.

Stokes has a history of driving himself 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.

On the Brink of Defeat

England are on the verge of another loss in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the first three Tests of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is sealed on day four, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been determined in just ten 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 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 highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series ongoing.

"I still believe 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 thrown some but absorbed many. It's time, now we're backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers."