Captain Ben Stokes Feels 'Knackered' Yet Insists He's 'Ready to Bowl'

The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "exhausted" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, despite he did not bowl on the day three of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed five other bowlers as Australia moved to 271-4 in their second innings, establishing a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

The versatile all-rounder had earlier battled for more than five hours at the crease across two days to compile 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

Throughout his marathon 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by a fast bowler and experienced bouts of cramp. He also required time off the field on Friday after banging his head on the ground while attempting a stop.

"He might be a bit tired and just need a bit of 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

Considering his complicated injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous four series – any indication the Durham man might be nursing an issue attracts significant attention.

Eager to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was puzzling given it was England's last chance to remain alive in the Ashes series.

At trailing 2-0 and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of regaining the urn intact, 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 probably where he's at."

The tourists could have stayed within the match by dismissing Australia for around 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 unbeaten 142.

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

"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 curtailed his own bowling was on the final day of the drawn 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 driving himself to its absolute limit, and it was suggested to Patel that the captain felt he might have endangered himself if he pushed 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 initial three matches of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is completed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been decided in 10 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 decided this quickly.

A Formidable Challenge

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 alive.

"I remain convinced there's an chance for us," stated Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something magical. I think it's about time we saw something magical from us."

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