Captain Ben Stokes Is 'Exhausted' Yet Insists He's 'Ready to Bowl'

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

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

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

A Demanding Knock

During his marathon 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was struck on the head by a fast bowler and suffered bouts of cramp. He also needed a period off the field on the previous day after banging his head on the ground while attempting a stop.

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

"From what I understand, he's quite ready to bowl. I think he's just really exhausted and he's taken a lot out of himself to get through this point in the match."

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his chequered injury history – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be carrying a problem attracts considerable scrutiny.

Always keen 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 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of winning back the Ashes alive, England had conceded a first-innings lead of 85 runs.

"My understanding 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 visiting side could have stayed within the match by bowling out Australia for around 240 in their second innings and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, 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 ex-New Zealand player 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 limited his bowling was on the last day of the tied 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 driving himself to its absolute limit, and it was put 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 stand on the edge of another loss in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the initial three matches of the series.

If the tourists' loss is sealed on day four, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been determined in 10 days – the opening two matches were over in short periods respectively.

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

A Formidable Challenge

If a primary objective is to extend this match into a fifth day, England will also have to pull off the greatest run-chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series ongoing.

"I remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," said Patel. "It will be difficult, we're going to need something magical. I think it's high time we saw something special from us."

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