The team skipper Ben Stokes is said to be "exhausted" but still "fit and ready" to deliver overs, per team coach Jeetan Patel, even though he abstained from bowling on the day three of a pivotal Ashes Test.
Stokes utilized a quintet of alternative bowlers as the Australian side moved to 271-4 in their second innings, building a commanding lead of 356 runs at the venue.
The versatile all-rounder had previously spent over five hours at the crease over two days to compile 83 runs in England's initial batting effort.
Throughout his marathon 198-ball stay, the veteran cricketer was hit on the helmet by a fast bowler and suffered muscle cramps. He also required time off the field on the previous day after hitting his head on the turf while trying to field the ball.
"He could be a little fatigued and just require some time to himself right now," commented Patel.
"From what I understand, he's pretty fit to bowl. I think he's just really exhausted and he's expended a great deal out of himself to reach this point in the game."
Given his complicated injury past – Stokes has not been fully available in any of England's last four series – any suggestion the Durham man might be nursing an issue draws significant attention.
Always keen to be in the thick of the action, Stokes' decision not to bowl on Friday was curious given it was England's last chance to stay in the Ashes series.
At 2-0 down and needing to win in Adelaide to keep their aspirations of winning back the Ashes intact, England had conceded a first-innings deficit of 85 runs.
"All I know is he operates at 100%," said Patel. "If he thinks he can't do it at 100%, I don't think he's going to do it. That's probably where he's at."
The visiting side could have stayed within the contest by bowling out Australia for around 240 in their second knock and had faint chances at certain scorelines, only for the hosts to accelerate away through Travis Head's not out 142.
Even though England delivered 66 overs, Stokes did not use himself.
"He abstained from bowling but that's probably a separate conversation with him," said former New Zealand international Patel.
"I don't actually know. We all know he doesn't do anything at 80%. Maybe he thought he was a liability, so he didn't bowl."
The last time Stokes limited his bowling was on the last day of the drawn fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July.
He afterwards was absent for the fifth Test at The Oval with a shoulder problem.
Stokes has a reputation of driving himself past breaking point, and it was put to Patel that the captain felt he might have risked injury if he exerted himself any further in Adelaide.
England are on the verge of yet another defeat in Australia, once again probably facing defeat inside the initial three matches of the series.
If the visitors' defeat is completed on day four, it would mean the outcome of the Ashes has been determined in 10 days – the opening two matches were over in two and four days respectively.
Not since 1921, when Australia needed only eight days of play to win in England, has the winner of an Ashes series been determined so swiftly.
If a first goal is to prolong the game into a final day, England will also have to pull off the greatest run-chase at the Adelaide Oval to keep the series ongoing.
"I remain convinced there's an chance for us," said Patel. "It will be difficult, we're going to need something magical. I think it's about time we witnessed something magical from us."
"After three matches, we've landed some blows but taken a lot. It's about time, now we're with our backs to the wall, to fight back fiercely."
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