Chris Woakes Injury To End His Participation At Oval Test? Here's What We Know

England all-rounder Chris Woakes suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury while fielding on the opening day of the Oval Test match. It dealt a fresh blow to England’s bowling lineup. The incident occurred in the 57th over when Woakes, renowned for his commitment and athleticism in the field, chased a ball towards the boundary on a damp outfield. He slipped and landed awkwardly, immediately grabbing his left shoulder and showing clear signs of discomfort. Medical staff from the England team promptly attended to him, using his jumper as a makeshift sling before escorting him off the field for further assessment.

Chris Woakes' Injury Forced Him to Leave the Field During IND vs ENG 5th Test

Post Chris Woakes' injury, he did not return to the field for the rest of the day, and initial reports from the England camp have indicated he is likely to miss the remainder of the game. He was sent for scans, with the team anxiously awaiting a full diagnosis.

Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the rest of England's final Test against India after injuring his shoulder on the opening day. A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board, released before the start of play on Friday, said Woakes' condition would be monitored as the Test goes on, but he is expected "at this stage" to play no further part. Woakes’ absence puts additional strain on the already depleted England pace attack, with several key bowlers such as Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer unavailable for the series due to injury or rest.
Before Chris Woakes' shoulder injury, he had already contributed significantly, claiming the wicket of Indian opener KL Rahul and finishing his spell with 1/46 from 14 overs. The match also witnessed a moment of sportsmanship when Indian batter Karun Nair opted not to attempt an extra run after seeing Woakes’ distress, earning praise from cricket fans around the world.

Current ICC rules do not permit England to replace Woakes with another bowler unless the injury is caused by concussion, leading many to question the fairness of existing substitution regulations in Test cricket. As the team awaits a detailed update on Woakes’ recovery, his injury is a sobering setback in what could be one of his final appearances for England. Chris Woakes shoulder injury might just prove to be the deciding factor in the ongoing Test.

Rain Delays Play, Karun Nair Holds Fort for India

India ended Day 1 of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval on 204 for six, after a rain-affected day that allowed only 64 overs of play on Thursday. Persistent showers and multiple interruptions throughout the day made conditions challenging for both teams, with long stoppages limiting the amount of cricket possible.
After being sent in to bat, India lost early wickets, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal falling for just 2, trapped leg-before by England pacer Gus Atkinson. The top order continued to struggle as Chris Woakes bowled KL Rahul for 14, leaving India tottering at 38 for two. However, debutant Sai Sudharsan showed composure at the crease, putting together a valuable 38 before being dismissed. The innings wobbled further when captain Shubman Gill, after a cautious start, was run out for 21 following a mix-up and some sharp fielding from England. Gill’s exit triggered another short stoppage for rain, with only six overs bowled in the truncated second session.
Play resumed in an extended final session, where India looked to rebuild. Karun Nair emerged as the stabilising force, bringing up a patient half-century and remaining unbeaten on 52 at stumps. He was well supported by Washington Sundar, who reached 19* by the end of the day. Despite losing three wickets in the final session, the pair ensured that India avoided a major collapse and ended the day in a relatively steady position considering the conditions.
For England, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson were the pick of the bowlers, finishing with two wickets each, while Woakes and Tongue’s early breakthroughs put India under pressure. The match remains finely poised, with India hoping for better weather and a solid second-day showing from their lower order.