Captain Stokes ‘knackered’ but ‘fit to bowl’

Assistant coach Jeetan Patel claims that captain Ben Stokes is “knackered” but still “fit to bowl” despite not taking the ball on day three of England’s crucial Ashes Test.

Australia improved to 271-4 in their second innings, which was 356 innings, thanks to five additional bowlers from Stokes.

In England’s first innings, the all-rounder made 83 with the bat after spending more than five hours at the crease over two days.

The 34-year-old suffered cramping and a headshot from Mitchell Starc while undergoing a 198-ball stay. After attempting to stop by crashing his head against the ground on Friday, he also spent time off the field.

He might be a little tired, Patel said, and he may just require some alone time right now.

He appears to me to be pretty fit to bowl. He’s taken a lot of self-pity and effort to get through this stage of the game, in my opinion, and is just pretty knackered.

Any suggestion that the Durham man might be carrying a problem is highly controversial given his chequered injury history (Stokes has not played a full part in any of England’s previous four series).

Stokes’ absence from the Ashes attack on Friday was odd because it was England’s final chance to stay in the series. He has always been eager to be in the heat of battle.

England suffered an 85th-innings deficit to maintain their hopes of regaining control of the urn after going 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to win.

With only 53-2 and 149-4, the visitors had slim chances of winning the match, but they could have hung on by dismissing Australia for around 240 in their second innings and overcoming Travis Head’s unbeaten 142 to win it.

Stokes chose to not use himself, despite England’s 66 overs.

Patel, a former New Zealand international, said, “He didn’t bowl, but that’s probably a different conversation with him.”

Stokes last curtailed his own bowling on the final day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.

He then suffered a shoulder injury that prevented him from taking the fifth Test at The Oval.

Stokes has a history of pushing his body past breaking point, and Patel was informed that the captain had the idea that if he continued to exert himself in Adelaide, he might have risked injury.

He always goes at 100%, Patel said. I don’t believe he will do it if he believes he can’t do it at 100%. That’s probably where he’s at.

England is just one more matchup away from Australia, which is likely to be won in the series’ first three Tests.

If the tourists’ loss is resolved on Saturday’s fourth day, it would mean that the Ashes’ destination has been chosen in ten days, with the first and second Tests ending in two and four days, respectively.

The winner of an Ashes has not been determined so quickly since 1921, when Australia only needed eight days of play in England.

To keep the series alive, England will also need to pull off the most successful chase at the Adelaide Oval if a first goal is needed to extend this game to a fifth day.

Patel continued, “I still think there is a chance for us.” We will need something magical because it won’t be easy. I believe it’s about time we learned something from us.