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The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "worn out" but still "fit and ready" to bowl, per team coach Jeetan Patel, despite he abstained from bowling on the third day of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as Australia progressed to 271-4 in their follow-on, establishing a commanding lead of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

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

A Demanding Knock

During his marathon 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by a fast bowler and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time 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," stated Patel.

"Based on my knowledge, he's quite ready to bowl. I think he's just really exhausted and he's expended a great deal out of himself to reach this point in the game."

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his chequered injury past – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's previous four series – any suggestion the star all-rounder might be carrying a problem draws 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 needing to win in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn intact, England had given up a first-innings deficit of 85 runs.

"All I know 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 probably where he's at."

The visiting side could have remained in the contest by dismissing Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had slim hopes at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the hosts to accelerate away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

Although England delivered 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.

"He abstained from bowling but that's perhaps a different discussion with him," noted ex-New Zealand player Patel.

"I don't actually know. We all know he doesn't do anything 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 subsequently missed the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder problem.

Stokes has a history of driving himself past breaking point, and it was put to Patel that the captain felt he might have risked injury 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 initial three matches of the series.

If the visitors' defeat is sealed on day four, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been determined in 10 days – the first and second Tests were over in two and four days 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 greatest run-chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.

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

"After three matches, we've thrown some but taken a lot. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."