🏏 Stokes Fit to Bowl Despite Ashes Fatigue

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Stokes: 83 off 198, economy 3.2 as captain
2🏆 Missed bowling as Aus hit 271/4, lead 356
3💡 Heat cramps echo Cummins; Jacks leaked 107 @5.6
4🔮 Day 4: Stokes' swing key to epic chase
5💬 'Needs time, but fit' - Jeetan Patel

"The England captain did not bowl a single over on Day 3 even as Australia extended their lead"

Ben Stokes is 'knackered' but 'fit to bowl' in the third Ashes Test, per England assistant Jeetan Patel, despite skipping Day 3 duties in Adelaide. After 83 off 198 balls in searing 40°C heat, cramps and a head knock sidelined him as Australia built a 356 lead. Patel emphasized rest, with Harry Brook briefly captaining.

Stokes' all-round marathon—five hours batting, fielding strains—highlights his freakish workload since 2022 captaincy. England's 'Bazball' era demands his control bowling, missed as Will Jacks leaked 107 @5.6 economy to Travis Head and Alex Carey. Context: Ashes level at 1-1, pivoting on Stokes' fitness.

Managing the Captain's Workload

Stokes' Test economy under him: 3.2 rpo vs 4.1 without, per stats. Day 3's 66 overs sans him exposed seam rotation flaws on flat tracks. His cramp issues mirror Pat Cummins' 2023 strains; historically, captains like Ricky Ponting rotated smartly in heatwaves, preserving for chases. England's five-bowler attack leaned on part-timers fatally.

Ashes Momentum at Stake

Australia's 271/4 second innings tests England's lower order; Stokes bowling Day 4 could spark collapse. Series implications: win seals Urn retention, fueling Bazball narrative amid criticism. His resilience defines this rivalry.