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England's captain Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to deliver overs, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, despite he abstained from bowling on the third day of a pivotal Ashes Test.

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

The versatile all-rounder had earlier spent over five hours at the crease over two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

During his extended 198-ball innings, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by Mitchell Starc and experienced bouts of cramp. He also needed a period off the field on Friday after banging his head on the turf while attempting a stop.

"He might 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."

Injury History Scrutiny

Considering his complicated injury past – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's previous four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be carrying a problem attracts significant attention.

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 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive, England had given up a first-innings deficit of 85 runs.

"My understanding is he goes at 100%," remarked 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 knock and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, only for the hosts to pull away through Travis Head's not out 142.

Even though England bowled 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.

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

"I'm not entirely sure. We all know he never performs at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a risk, so he didn't bowl."

Precedent and Pressure

The most recent occasion 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 injury.

Stokes has a history of pushing his body 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.

On the Brink of Defeat

England stand on the edge of another loss in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the first three Tests of the series.

If the tourists' loss is completed on day four, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been decided in just ten days – the first and second Tests 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 decided this quickly.

A Daunting Task Ahead

If a primary objective is to extend this match into a fifth day, England will also have to achieve 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 will be difficult, we're going to need something extraordinary. I think it's high time we saw something special from us."

"Three games in, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to throw some haymakers."