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The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to bowl, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he abstained from bowling on the third day of a pivotal Ashes Test.

Stokes utilized five other bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their second innings, establishing a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the venue.

The dynamic player had earlier battled for more than five hours at the wicket across two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Demanding Knock

During his marathon 198-ball stay, 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 turf 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 pretty knackered and he's expended a great deal out of himself to reach this point in the game."

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 star all-rounder might be carrying a problem attracts considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the heat of battle, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was curious given it was England's final opportunity to stay in the Ashes series.

At 2-0 down and requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of winning back the Ashes intact, England had given up a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"My understanding is he operates 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 probably where he's at."

The tourists 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 bowled 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.

"He abstained from bowling but that's perhaps a separate conversation 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 liability, so he didn't bowl."

Precedent and Pressure

The last time Stokes curtailed his own bowling was on the last 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 history of pushing his body past breaking point, 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 another loss in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the first three Tests of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is completed on day four, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been decided 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 winner of an Ashes series been determined so swiftly.

A Formidable Challenge

If a first goal is to prolong the game into a final 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 extraordinary. I think it's high time we witnessed something special from us."

"Three games in, 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."