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 bowl, per team coach Jeetan Patel, even though he did not bowl on the day three of a pivotal Ashes Test.

Stokes utilized five other bowlers as the Australian side progressed to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

The dynamic player had earlier battled for more than five hours at the crease over two days to compile 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.

A Demanding Knock

Throughout his extended 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was struck on the head by a fast bowler and experienced bouts of cramp. He also needed a period off the field on Friday after hitting his head on the ground while trying to field the ball.

"He could be a little fatigued and just require some time to himself right now," commented Patel.

"Based on my knowledge, he's quite ready to bowl. I think he's just pretty knackered and he's taken a lot out of himself to reach this point in the match."

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his complicated injury past – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the star all-rounder might be carrying a problem draws significant attention.

Eager to be in the heat of battle, Stokes' absence from the attack 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 winning back the Ashes alive, England had given up a first-innings deficit 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 stayed within the match by dismissing Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had faint chances at certain scorelines, only for the home team to pull away through Travis Head's not out 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."

Precedent and Pressure

The last time Stokes limited his bowling was on the final day of the tied fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.

He subsequently missed the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder injury.

Stokes has a history of driving himself past breaking point, and it was put to Patel that the captain felt he might have endangered himself if he pushed himself any further in Adelaide.

Facing Imminent Loss

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 tourists' loss 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 short periods 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 Daunting Task Ahead

If a primary objective is to extend this match 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," stated Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something magical. I think it's high time we witnessed something special from us."

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