Ben Stokes fit to bowl as England face Ashes challenge
England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has been declared “fit to bowl” despite sitting out the entire bowling effort on day three of the crucial third Ashes encounter in Adelaide, according to assistant coach Jeetan Patel, reports BritPanorama.
The all-rounder did not turn his arm over as Australia compiled 271 for four in their second innings, establishing a formidable 356-run advantage.
Patel confirmed Stokes’s condition after Friday’s play, stating, “From what I understand, he’s pretty fit to bowl.” He added that Stokes was feeling fatigued following a demanding game, where he batted for over five hours, scoring 83 runs from 198 deliveries.
Stokes’ absence from the bowling attack raised questions, especially with England needing a strong performance to remain competitive in the series. His significant effort came under extreme conditions, where temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius at the Adelaide Oval.
During his innings, Stokes showed visible signs of distress, suffering from cramping and taking a blow to the head from a delivery by Mitchell Starc. He even briefly left the field after hitting his head on the ground while attempting to field the ball, prompting Harry Brook to step in as the acting captain.
As Stokes rested, Travis Head emerged as a key player for Australia, amassing an impressive unbeaten 142 to guide the hosts into a commanding position going into the fourth day. England’s hopes of restricting Australia’s lead were stifled by the absence of Stokes, which forced them to rely on five different bowlers.
Part-time off-spinner Will Jacks felt the brunt of Australia’s assault, conceding 107 runs at an economy rate of 5.6. Patel noted Stokes’ all-or-nothing ethos, concluding, “We all know he doesn’t do anything at 80 percent… If he thinks he can’t do it at 100 percent, I don’t think he’s going to do it.”
With England trailing 2-0 in the series and facing significant challenges, Patel urged his team to seek inspiration over the next two days. “I still believe there’s an opportunity for us,” he remarked. “It won’t be easy; we’re going to need something magical.” As the fourth day looms, all eyes will be on whether Stokes can contribute to a resurgence or if England’s Ashes hopes will slip further away.
