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The team skipper Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, per team coach Jeetan Patel, even though he did not bowl on the day three of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed five other bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, building 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 score 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.

A Demanding Knock

During his extended 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old was hit on the helmet by Mitchell Starc and suffered bouts of cramp. He also required time off the field on the previous day after hitting his head on the ground while trying to field the ball.

"He might be a little fatigued and just need a bit of time to himself right now," commented Patel.

"From what I understand, he's pretty fit to bowl. I think he's just pretty knackered and he's taken a lot out of himself to reach this point in the game."

Past Fitness Concerns

Considering his chequered 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 attracts considerable scrutiny.

Eager to be in the thick of the action, 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 requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their hopes of winning back the Ashes alive, England had conceded a first-innings lead 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 likely where he's at."

The tourists could have stayed within the contest by bowling out Australia for approximately 240 in their second knock and had slim hopes at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the home team to pull away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

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

"He didn't bowl but that's perhaps a different discussion with him," noted 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 liability, so he didn't bowl."

Precedent and Pressure

The most recent occasion Stokes limited his bowling was on the final day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.

He subsequently was absent for the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder injury.

Stokes has a reputation of driving himself to its absolute limit, and it was suggested to Patel that the captain felt he might have endangered himself if he exerted himself any further in Adelaide.

On the Brink of Defeat

England are on the verge 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 sealed on day four, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been decided in 10 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 victor of an Ashes series been determined so swiftly.

A Formidable Challenge

If a first goal 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 ongoing.

"I remain convinced there's an chance for us," said 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 about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."