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England's captain Ben Stokes is reportedly "worn out" but still "physically able" to bowl, according to team coach Jeetan Patel, even though he abstained from bowling on the third day of a critical Ashes Test.

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

A Demanding Knock

Throughout his marathon 198-ball innings, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by Mitchell Starc and experienced bouts of cramp. He also required time off the field on the previous day after banging his head on the turf while attempting a stop.

"He could be a little fatigued and just require some time to himself right now," commented Patel.

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

Past Fitness Concerns

Given his complicated injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the star all-rounder might be nursing an issue attracts considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was puzzling given it was England's final opportunity to stay in the Ashes series.

At trailing 2-0 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.

"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 remained in the contest by bowling out Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, only for the hosts to pull away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

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

"He didn't bowl but that's perhaps a separate conversation 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 risk, so he didn't bowl."

Past Instances and Current Strain

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 problem.

Stokes has a reputation of driving himself past breaking point, and it was suggested to Patel that the captain felt he might have endangered himself if he pushed 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 initial three matches of the series.

If the tourists' loss is completed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been decided 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 first goal is to prolong the game into a fifth day, England will also have to pull off the highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.

"I still believe there's an opportunity 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 magical from us."

"Three games in, we've landed some blows but taken a lot. It's time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."