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The team skipper Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to deliver overs, per assistant coach Jeetan Patel, despite he did not bowl on the day three of a pivotal Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed five other bowlers as Australia moved to 271-4 in their second innings, establishing a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the venue.

The versatile all-rounder had previously battled for more than five hours at the crease over two days to compile 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Grueling Innings

Throughout his marathon 198-ball innings, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by a fast bowler and experienced muscle cramps. He also needed a period off the field on the previous day after hitting his head on the turf while attempting a stop.

"He could be a bit tired and just require some time to himself right now," stated 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 complicated injury past – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series – any indication the Durham man might be nursing an issue attracts significant attention.

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 requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their hopes of winning back the Ashes intact, England had conceded 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 probably where he's at."

The visiting side could have stayed within the match by dismissing Australia for around 240 in their second innings and had faint chances at certain scorelines, only for the home team to accelerate away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

Even though England delivered 66 overs, Stokes chose not to bowl.

"He didn't bowl but that's probably a different discussion with him," said ex-New Zealand player Patel.

"I don't actually know. We all know he never performs at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, so he didn't bowl."

Precedent and Pressure

The most recent occasion Stokes curtailed his own bowling was on the last day of the tied 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 pushing his body past breaking point, and it was put to Patel that the captain felt he might have risked injury if he pushed himself any further in Adelaide.

On the Brink of Defeat

England are on the verge of another loss in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the initial three matches of the series.

If the visitors' defeat 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 two and four days respectively.

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

A Daunting Task Ahead

If a first goal is to extend this match into a final day, England will also have to achieve the highest successful chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series ongoing.

"I remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," stated Patel. "It will be difficult, we're going to need something magical. I think it's about time we witnessed something magical 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 throw some haymakers."