🔗 Share this article Skipper Ben Stokes Feels 'Knackered' Yet Insists He's 'Ready to Bowl' From a Chief Cricket Reporter At the famous cricket ground Published within the last hour The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "worn out" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he did not bowl on the day three of a critical Ashes Test. Stokes utilized five other bowlers as the Australian side progressed to 271-4 in their second innings, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval. The dynamic player had earlier spent over five hours at the wicket 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 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 trying to field the ball. "He might 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 really exhausted and he's taken a lot out of himself to reach this point in the match." Past Fitness Concerns Considering his chequered injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous four series – any suggestion the star all-rounder might be carrying a problem attracts significant attention. Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was curious given it was England's final opportunity to remain alive in the Ashes series. At 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of regaining the urn alive, England had given up a first-innings deficit of 85 runs. "All I know 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 probably where he's at." The tourists could have remained in the match by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had faint chances at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the home team to accelerate away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142. Although England delivered 66 overs, Stokes chose not to bowl. "He abstained from bowling but that's probably a different discussion with him," noted former New Zealand international 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." 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 afterwards was absent for the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder problem. Stokes has a reputation of driving himself to its absolute limit, and it was put to Patel that the captain felt he might have risked injury if he pushed himself any further in Adelaide. Facing Imminent Loss England stand on the edge of yet another defeat 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 decided 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 victor of an Ashes series been determined so swiftly. 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 chance for us," stated 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." "After three matches, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's time, now we're backed into a corner, to fight back fiercely."