England's Ashes campaign has been hit by a fresh concern, with captain Ben Stokes under a mysterious injury cloud following a gruelling third day of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Stokes Fails to Bowl as England Toil
Having resumed his innings on Friday morning alongside tailender Jofra Archer, Stokes played a defiant knock. The pair put on a crucial 106-run stand for the ninth wicket, which was England's second-largest partnership of the series so far. However, his resistance ended when he was bowled by Australian paceman Mitchell Starc.
The tourists were dismissed shortly after, trailing Australia by a significant 85 runs on the first innings. With a heavy workload already behind him after bowling 19 overs in Australia's first innings, Stokes was expected to be a pivotal figure with the ball as England fought to stay in the match.
In a worrying sign for the visitors, Stokes did not deliver a single one of the 66 overs England bowled on Day 3. His absence from the attack was glaring, and as the final session wore on, observers noted he began to look "a bit ginger" while fielding.
Experts Speculate on the Nature of the Problem
Commentators were quick to question the England skipper's condition. "No Stokes today for England. I wonder if that's a problem going to Melbourne," noted David Lloyd on Channel 7's broadcast.
Ricky Ponting was more direct, stating, "Well, he can't be right; he wouldn't be holding himself back in a moment like this, series on the line." Former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar suggested a potential adductor issue, though nothing was confirmed.
The concern grew when Stokes appeared to pull up lame after chasing a ball to the boundary from Alex Carey late in the day. Analysing the replay, Ponting spotted a tell-tale sign. "His walk all the way back, it looks like there's a little limp there. So something's up," he said.
It was also revealed that Stokes had earlier left the field briefly after knocking his head on one of the practice pitches, though commentators pointed out he had not bowled prior to that incident either.
England Coaching Staff Downplay Concerns
Despite the visible evidence and expert commentary, England's bowling coach, Jeetan Patel, moved to allay fears after stumps. Speaking to reporters, Patel insisted, "From what I understand, he's pretty fit to bowl."
He attributed Stokes's lack of bowling to sheer exhaustion. "I think he's just pretty knackered and he's taken a lot out of himself to get through to this point in the game. I think he might be a bit tired and just needs a bit of time to himself right now," Patel explained.
James Brayshaw summed up the dilemma, praising Stokes as "such a tough cricketer, and such an example-setter" who, as captain, would not want to leave the field. The mystery surrounding his fitness adds another layer of difficulty for an England side already staring down the barrel in the series, with the crucial Melbourne Test looming.
