England assistant coach Jeetan Patel has sought to calm fears over Ben Stokes’ bowling fitness, insisting that exhaustion — rather than injury — lay behind the captain’s absence from the attack on day three of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Stokes, who sent down 19 overs in Australia’s first innings, all on the opening day, did not bowl at all during the hosts’ 66 overs on Friday. The decision raised eyebrows, particularly given that Stokes has been England’s most effective bowler in the series, boasting the best average at 25.87 and leading the team’s wicket tally in Tests in 2025 with 28 scalps.
Patel, however, pointed to the sheer physical and mental toll Stokes has endured across the match. Over the first three days, the England skipper has been stretched to his limits, most notably spending more than five hours at the crease in punishing heat while battling visible discomfort in a defiant innings of 83.
“From what I understand, he’s pretty fit to bowl,” Patel said. “I think he’s just pretty knackered and he’s taken a lot out of himself to get through this point in the game.”
The assistant coach acknowledged that the emotional investment of Stokes’ innings added another layer of fatigue. After grinding his way into a position where England could have pressed on, Stokes fell early on day three, a moment Patel felt drained him further.
“All the work he had done to get to the position where he was, where we could push that partnership further, that took a lot out of him,” Patel explained. “Then you get that early wicket and the energies are up, and all of a sudden it’s not quite where you think it’s going.”
Patel also suggested that Stokes’ own uncompromising standards may have influenced the call. Known for operating at full throttle or not at all, Stokes may have decided against bowling if he felt he could not give his absolute best.
“We all know he doesn’t do anything at 80%,” Patel said. “Maybe he thought he was a risk, so he didn’t bowl.”
With Australia firmly in control and edging closer to sealing the Ashes, Patel urged England to draw inspiration from adversity rather than shrink from it. He pointed to the team’s ability to respond when backed into a corner, referencing their resilience during the 2023 Ashes.
“I’m very optimistic of where we could take it,” he said. “It won’t be easy — we’re going to need something magical.”
“Three games in, we’ve thrown some but taken a lot. Now we’re backed into a corner, it’s about time to throw some haymakers back.”
Australia currently hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series and are well placed to close out the contest in Adelaide. For England, the challenge is stark: find a response strong enough to revive a faltering Ashes campaign — with or without their captain’s bowling.
