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Ben Stokes was fit but too knackered to bowl within the third Ashes Test, says Jeetan Patel. Stokes top-scored with 83 but England lost control as Australia led by 356 runs at Stumps.
England Test captain, Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is ‘pretty fit to bowl’ but still didn’t take the red cherry within the third innings of the third Ashes Test because he was ‘knackered’ and the best way he got out to Mitchell Starc ‘took rather a lot out of him’, in line with Jeetan Patel, England’s assistant coach. Patel said even he wasn’t sure why Stokes didn’t bowl but assured that at worst, the skipper just didn’t wish to risk an injury.
Even without the innings, Stokes has bowled the fifth-most overs within the Ashes at 51, taking eight wickets at a mean of 25.88. He has also batted for probably the most balls in his team and was among the many couple of players who put up a fight when asked to chase Australia’s first innings rating of 371. Stokes top-scored with 83 (198), getting out within the morning of the fourth day to a wobble-seamed nip-backer from Starc.
“From what I understand, he’s pretty fit to bowl,” Patel said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “I believe he’s just pretty knackered and he’s taken rather a lot out of himself to get through this point in the sport.”
“The frustration of the best way he got out this morning… well not the best way, it was a reasonably good delivery… but all of the work he had done to get to the position where he was, where we could press on again and push that partnership further… that took rather a lot out of him as well and you then get that early wicket and the energies are up and impulsively it’s not quite where you think that it’s going.
“From what we heard he was (fit). He didn’t bowl, but that’s probably a unique discussion with him. I don’t actually know. My sense is he’s just pretty knackered. Everyone knows he doesn’t do anything at 80%. Possibly he thought he was a risk, so he didn’t bowl,” he added.
England were bowled out for 286/10 and lost complete control of the Test by the tip of the day with Australia at 271/4 at Stumps, 356 runs behind.
‘Time to throw some haymakers back’
The visitors’ camp continues to be hopeful of a miracle, regardless that history and the chances are against them.
“I’m very optimistic of where we could take it,” Patel said. “I still imagine there’s a chance for us. It won’t be easy, we’re going to want something magical. I believe it’s about time we saw something magical from us, ? Three games in, we’ve thrown some but taken rather a lot and I believe it’s about time, now we’re backed right into a corner, to throw some haymakers back.”
December 19, 2025, 15:41 IST
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