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The team skipper Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to bowl, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he did not bowl on the day three of a critical Ashes Test.

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

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

A Demanding Knock

Throughout his marathon 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by a fast bowler and experienced muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on the previous day after hitting his head on the turf while trying to field the ball.

"He could be a little fatigued 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 really exhausted and he's expended a great deal out of himself to get through this point in the match."

Injury History Scrutiny

Given his complicated injury history – 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 considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the heat of battle, Stokes' absence from the attack 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 regaining the urn intact, England had given up a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

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

The visiting side could have stayed within the match by dismissing Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had faint chances at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the home team to accelerate away through Travis Head's not out 142.

Although England bowled 66 overs, Stokes chose not to bowl.

"He didn't bowl but that's perhaps a separate conversation with him," noted 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 reputation of driving himself past breaking point, and it was suggested to Patel that the captain felt he might have risked injury if he exerted himself any further in Adelaide.

Facing Imminent Loss

England stand on the edge of yet another defeat 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 determined in just ten days – the opening two matches were over in two and four days respectively.

Not since 1921, when Australia needed only eight playing days to win in England, has the victor of an Ashes series been decided this quickly.

A Formidable Challenge

If a primary objective is to prolong the game 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 remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," stated Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something extraordinary. I think it's about 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 backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers."