Woakes was spotted in full England whites in the dressing room on Day 4, his left arm in a sling after sustaining a painful shoulder injury while diving to save a boundary. The injury ruled him out of bowling duties and initially cast serious doubt over his availability for the remainder of the match
Chris Woakes (Photo: AFP)
The fifth and final Test between England and India is set for a dramatic conclusion on Monday, with the series hanging by a thread. England require just 35 more runs to clinch a 3-1 series win, while India need four wickets to level the contest 2-2. Amid the tension, attention has turned to the status of injured all-rounder Chris Woakes, who may yet play a part despite being officially sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Woakes was spotted in full England whites in the dressing room on Day 4, his left arm in a sling after sustaining a painful shoulder injury while diving to save a boundary. The injury ruled him out of bowling duties and initially cast serious doubt over his availability for the remainder of the match. However, a twist emerged late on Sunday when Joe Root revealed that Woakes had declared himself available to bat, if needed, in the final innings.
“He’s all-in, like the rest of us,” Root said after his 39th Test century, that helped England recover from early blows. “It's been that kind of series, where guys have had to put bodies on the line. Hopefully, it doesn't get to that. But he had some throwdowns in here at one point, and he's ready if needed. He's desperate to do what it takes.”
Root acknowledged the pain Woakes was in but praised his teammate’s commitment to the cause: “Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain having done what he's done...it just shows the character and the person that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England.”
While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Woakes would not bowl again in the match, he remains part of the official playing XI and is legally permitted to bat, most likely at No. 11. Whether or not he will take the field depends entirely on the match situation and his physical condition at the time.
Cricket history is not short of courageous moments from injured players. Rishabh Pant batted with a fractured toe, Anil Kumble famously bowled with a broken jaw, and both Graeme Smith and Malcolm Marshall continued playing with significant injuries. Woakes may soon join that list, should England find themselves in desperate need of one final stand.
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