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

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as Australia moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

The versatile all-rounder had earlier spent over five hours at the wicket across two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

Throughout his extended 198-ball innings, the veteran cricketer was struck on the head by a fast bowler and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on Friday after banging his head on the turf while attempting a stop.

"He might be a bit tired and just need a bit of time to himself right now," stated 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 get through this point in the match."

Injury History Scrutiny

Given his chequered injury history – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous four series – any indication the Durham man might be carrying a problem attracts significant attention.

Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' absence from the attack on Friday was puzzling 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 given up 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 remained in the match by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second knock and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, 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 separate conversation with him," said former New Zealand international Patel.

"I don't actually know. We all know he doesn't do anything at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a risk, so he didn't bowl."

Past Instances and Current Strain

The most recent occasion Stokes limited his bowling was on the last day of the tied 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 driving himself to its absolute limit, and it was put 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 stand on the edge of another loss in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the first three Tests 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 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 decided this quickly.

A Formidable Challenge

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

"Three games in, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."