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The team skipper 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 day three of a critical Ashes Test.

Stokes deployed a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, establishing a commanding lead of 356 runs at the venue.

The dynamic player had earlier battled for more than five hours at the wicket across two days to score 83 runs in England's first innings.

A Demanding Knock

During his extended 198-ball innings, the 34-year-old was hit on the helmet by a fast bowler and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on Friday after hitting his head on the turf while attempting a stop.

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

"Based on my knowledge, 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 game."

Past Fitness Concerns

Considering his chequered injury past – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series – any indication the star all-rounder might be nursing an issue attracts considerable scrutiny.

Always keen to be in the heat of battle, Stokes' absence from the attack on Friday was curious given it was England's final opportunity to remain alive in the Ashes series.

At trailing 2-0 and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of regaining the urn intact, England had given up a first-innings lead 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 probably where he's at."

The tourists could have stayed within the contest by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had faint chances at certain scorelines, only for the hosts to accelerate away through Travis Head's unbeaten 142.

Even though England bowled 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'm not entirely sure. We all know he doesn't do anything at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, so he didn't bowl."

Precedent and Pressure

The last time Stokes limited his 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 history of driving himself past breaking point, and it was put 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 are on the verge 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 Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been determined in just ten days – the first and second Tests were over in two and four days respectively.

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

A Formidable Challenge

If a primary objective is to prolong the game into a final day, England will also have to pull off the greatest run-chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.

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

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