England's captain Ben Stokes is reportedly "worn out" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, per assistant coach Jeetan Patel, even though he did not bowl on the day three of a pivotal Ashes Test.
Stokes utilized a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the venue.
The versatile all-rounder had earlier spent over five hours at the wicket across two days to compile 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.
Throughout his marathon 198-ball stay, the 34-year-old was struck on the head by a fast bowler and experienced bouts of cramp. He also needed a period off the field on the previous day after hitting 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.
"Based on my knowledge, he's quite ready 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."
Considering his complicated injury past – Stokes has not played a full part in any of England's previous four series – any indication the star all-rounder might be nursing an issue draws significant attention.
Eager to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was curious given it was England's last chance to remain alive in the Ashes series.
At trailing 2-0 and requiring a victory 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 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 likely where he's at."
The visiting side could have stayed within the contest by dismissing Australia for approximately 240 in their second innings and had slim hopes at certain scorelines, only for the home team to pull 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 perhaps a different discussion with him," noted former New Zealand international 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."
The most recent occasion Stokes curtailed his own bowling was on the last day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.
He afterwards missed 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 exerted himself any further in Adelaide.
England are on the verge of yet another defeat in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the initial three matches of the series.
If the visitors' defeat 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 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.
If a primary objective is to extend this match into a final day, England will also have to achieve the greatest run-chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series alive.
"I remain convinced 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."
"After three matches, we've thrown some but absorbed many. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."
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