Captain Stokes Is 'Exhausted' Yet Insists He's 'Ready to Bowl'
From the Chief Reporter
Reporting from the famous cricket ground
- Published recently
The team skipper Ben Stokes is reportedly "exhausted" but still "physically able" to deliver overs, per assistant coach Jeetan Patel, despite he abstained from bowling on the day three of a pivotal Ashes Test.
Stokes deployed five other bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their follow-on, building a substantial advantage of 356 runs at the Adelaide Oval.
The versatile all-rounder had previously spent over five hours at the wicket over two days to score 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.
A Grueling Innings
During his extended 198-ball innings, the veteran cricketer was hit on the helmet by Mitchell Starc and experienced bouts of cramp. He also needed a period off the field on Friday after banging his head on the ground while trying to field the ball.
"He could be a little fatigued and just need a bit of time to himself right now," commented 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 match."
Past Fitness Concerns
Given his complicated injury past β Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series β any indication the star all-rounder might be nursing an issue draws considerable scrutiny.
Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' absence from the attack on Friday was curious given it was England's final opportunity to remain alive in the Ashes series.
At 2-0 down and requiring a victory in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive, England had conceded 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 likely where he's at."
The tourists could have stayed within the match by bowling out Australia for around 240 in their second innings and had slim hopes at 53-2 and 149-4, only for the home team to pull away through Travis Head's not out 142.
Even though England delivered 66 overs, Stokes chose not to bowl.
"He abstained from bowling but that's probably a different discussion with him," noted ex-New Zealand player 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 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 suggested 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 stand on the edge of yet another defeat in Australia, once again likely to be beaten inside the first three Tests of the series.
If the visitors' defeat is completed on Saturday's fourth day, it would mean the destination of the Ashes has been decided in just ten days β the first and second Tests were over in short periods 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 Formidable Challenge
If a first goal 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 alive.
"I remain convinced there's an opportunity for us," stated Patel. "It won't be easy, we're going to need something extraordinary. I think it's about time we saw something magical from us."
"After three matches, we've landed some blows but taken a lot. It's time, now we're backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers."
